The Dickinson County Board has recommended staying with SkyWest Airlines over two other bidders to be the Essential Air Service carrier at Dickinson County’s Ford Airport as the Federal Aviation Administration looks to issue a new EAS contract effective Feb. 1. (Daily News file photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County will recommend that SkyWest Airlines remain the Essential Air Service carrier at Ford Airport in Kingsford.

The county board met Thursday and reached its decision after discussing three proposals being considered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has the final say.

“They’ve been the best for us to work with,” Airport Manager Tim Howen said of SkyWest. “It’s working right now.”

County Board Chairman Dan Harrington pointed out that an offer from Denver Air Connection was far cheaper, but he didn’t object as the board in a voice vote backed SkyWest.

“We know what we have here,” Commissioner Peter Swanson said.

Joe Buchanan, a seasonal resident in Spread Eagle, Wis., echoed that conclusion.

“I appreciate the quality service you’re going to maintain,” he told the board. Earlier, Buchanan urged commissioners to “stick with what works,” adding it may take another airline two or three years to reach SkyWest’s level of competency.

Howen told the board the county was fortunate to be considering three quality bids. The third proposal came from Air Wisconsin.

SkyWest has served as the EAS carrier at Ford Airport since 2012. The Federal Aviation Administration plans to issue a new EAS contract effective Feb. 1.

The proposals as reviewed:

— SkyWest: Thirteen round-trip flights per week for up to a four-year term to Minneapolis and/or Detroit on CRJ550 aircraft with seating for 50 passengers. Connections are through Delta Air Lines. The annual subsidy is $5.02 million in the first year, $5.17 million in the second, $5.32 million in the third and $5.48 million in the fourth. SkyWest will dedicate $25,000 annually to marketing its service.

— Denver Air Connection: Thirteen round-trip flights per week in 50-seat Embraer 145s for up to a four-year term. Service will be to Minneapolis, Detroit or Chicago O’Hare, or a combination. Denver Air Connection has established interline agreements with United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The annual subsidy is $4.52 million in the first year, $4.74 million in the second, $4.98 million in the third and $5.23 million in the fourth. The airline commits at least $20,000 annually to local marketing.

— Air Wisconsin: Thirteen round-trip flights per week to Chicago for up to a three-year term on CRJ200 50-seat aircraft. Air Wisconsin has a codeshare partnership with American Airlines and commits a local marketing spend of at least $40,000 annually. The annual subsidy is $5.15 million in the first year, $5.51 million in the second and $5.78 million in the third.

Howen mentioned several factors to consider:

— Denver Air’s bid could potentially allow for the use of 30-passenger jets.

— Although SkyWest in its current contract is committed to 13 round-trip flights per week, the airline has always provided 14 round-trip weekly flights.

— Denver Air’s lack of a codeshare agreement — as SkyWest has with Delta — could make it more difficult for passengers to resolve ticket purchase issues.

— Chicago flights could be a plus, but there are connection drawbacks. O’Hare is busier airport, often with longer waiting times on the ground.

— SkyWest’s service has consistently pushed the airport well above the 10,000 enplanements needed annually to be classified as a primary airport for Airport Improvement Program funding. There were more than 20,000 boardings at Ford in 2024.

Established by Congress in 1978, EAS is a federal program that ensures small, rural communities stay connected to the national air network. Communities can recommend a desired carrier, but the U.S. DOT makes its decision based on a number of factors, including the reliability of the airline and the compensation needed.

For the past two years, Ford Airport has been part of a five-airport EAS order that includes Sault Ste. Marie; Rhinelander, Wis.; and Brainerd and International Falls, Minn. Ford Airport’s share this year is $7.56 million of the $34.6 million five-airport total.

No direct local contribution is needed for the EAS subsidy. The program is mainly funded through fees collected by the FAA from foreign air carriers using U.S. airspace and through the Airport and Airways Trust Fund, which collects excise taxes from passenger ticket sales.

Headquartered in St. George, Utah, SkyWest Airlines has a fleet of about 500 aircraft connecting passengers to more than 240 destinations throughout North America. Denver Air Connection is a subsidiary of Key Lime Air, headquartered in Denver. Air Wisconsin of Appleton, Wis., has operated as a regional airline since 1965.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.