Delta Flights Altered After EAS Bid
Written by Andrew-Rossi on January 26, 2018
Customers who have purchased Delta airline tickets out of Cody for trips that leave after March 1st may have to make alternative travel arrangements.
Officials from Yellowstone Regional Airport this week sent out a news release noting that since the U.S. Department of Transportation chose to award the federal Essential Air Service Program bid to United Airlines, the SkyWest/Delta Connection service in the winter months may come to an end.
The Yellowstone Regional Airport Joint Powers Board had recommended to the Department of Transportation that Delta be granted the EAS contract – however, the United bid came in $400,000 dollars less than Delta’s. Because the cost was significantly less, the DOT awarded the next two year bid to United Airlines, effective March 1st of this year.
According to Craig Wilbur, who sits on both the Cody-Yellowstone Air Improvement Group and the Airport Board, United will provide two daily flights to Denver with additional service during the peak summer season.
Officials say that SkyWest will continue to offer service to YRA from May of this year through September 10th, with one daily flight departing Cody at 11:40 a.m. However, members of the CY AIR group say they will be working diligently with SkyWest in an effort to maintain service beyond that date.
Airport officials say that customers holding tickets should be offered alternate travel arrangements on SkyWest / Delta Connection, or receive a refund through Delta.
YRA passenger numbers for 2017 were the second best the Airport has on record. Yellowstone Regional is the third busiest airport in Wyoming with record growth the past two years.
