WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an order requiring that SkyWest Airlines continue the level of service required under its Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts, including in Jamestown and Devils Lake, until the department identifies replacement service. At the same time, DOT has requested proposals from air carriers to serve the 29 communities that would have been affected by SkyWest’s termination of service.
The order aligns with a recent letter sent by the North Dakota delegation to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urging him to require SkyWest to fulfill its EAS contract and help prevent any disruption in air service.
“Access to continued, reliable commercial air service for Jamestown, Devils Lake and the surrounding communities is necessary to continue economic growth and opportunities in the region and to meet the needs of the traveling public,” said the delegation. “Air service demand in North Dakota has significantly increased from previous years. Notably, of the eight commercial service airports in North Dakota, Jamestown and Devils Lake airports are the only that have seen an increase in boardings year-over-year from January 2019. Clearly, now is not the time to cease commercial air service to these communities.”
