US’s SkyWest cancels two EAS routes in New York State

Citing current challenges facing the airline industry, ostensibly the prevailing pilot shortage, SkyWest Airlines (OO, Salt Lake City) has given notice of its intent to terminate Essential Air Services (EAS) to Plattsburgh Int’l and Ogdensburg, both in New York state, on or before April 11, 2022.

In a regulatory notice to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) filed on January 11, the Utah-based capacity provider said although it would prefer to continue providing scheduled air services to both cities, “the challenges the airline industry is facing precludes us from doing so”. As required, the carrier was giving 90-day notice of its intentions. Any objection must be lodged with the DOT by January 31.

SkyWest Airlines currently provides 12 round trips a week from both cities to Washington Dulles operating for United Airlines (UA, Chicago O’Hare) under the United Express brand, and using 50-seater CRJ200s.

An earlier regulatory filing reveals that its EAS contract to Plattsburgh was awarded on May 29, 2020, for two years from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022, for an annual subsidy of USD3.3 million. Its EAS contract for Ogdensburg was renewed in March 2021 for another three years at a total subsidy of USD14 million for the whole period.