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SkyWest to stay in Alpena

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz U.S. Transportation Security Administration agent Lynn Palmer, left, checks the boarding pass and identification of Darlene Reamer at the Alpena County Regional Airport in this March 2020 News file photo.

ALPENA — SkyWest Airlines will stay on board as the primary air service provider at the Alpena County Regional Airport.

The airline was awarded a new two-year deal with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will pay SkyWest a $3.8 million subsidy to fly in and out of Alpena because the airport here is classified as an essential service airport.

SkyWest receives a $2.4 million annual subsidy under its current contract, which expires on Sept. 30.

SkyWest’s 50-passenger jet will make 12 round-trip flights to Detroit Metropolitan Airport each week, while the daily connection stop in Pellston will go by the wayside.

The U.S. DOT considered one other bidder for the Alpena contract: Boutique Air, which offered to provide 21 trips to Detroit but would only use a small plane that can carry up to nine passengers.

Neither company offered a flight to Minneapolis, as airport officials had hoped they would because of booming traffic in and out of Alpena.

Besides providing safe and dependable service, SkyWest has become a huge asset to the entire region, Airport Manager Steve Smigelski said. He said the airline has modified its flight schedule to fit the needs of travelers in the area and is always looking to offer competitive prices, which helps bolster business at the airport.

“It means a lot to us, and I’m thrilled to have them back for another two years,” Smigelski said. “The relationship the airline, airport, community, and county have has been tremendous. They have helped us any way they could and helped us increase enplanements and reduce prices, and I’m just as pleased as I possibly could be.”

“This is incredibly important, as it affects our tourism, economic development, and pretty much every part of our community in one way or another,” Alpena Mayor Matt Waligora said. “I’m glad to have them back for sure.”

SkyWest officials could not be reached for comment.

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