Aberdeen, SD - According to a press release from the Aberdeen Transportation Department, SkyWest Airlines was selected by the Department of Transportation to officially replace Mesaba/Pinnacle in Aberdeen.  On July 15th 2011, Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines, both operating as Delta Connection, filed notice to terminate service at Aberdeen, SD.  On Jan 26th, SkyWest airlines operating as Delta Connection was selected to serve Aberdeen through the Essential Air Service program. 

SkyWest originally submitted a proposal requesting $1,525,683 per year for 14 round trip flights per week to Minneapolis.  The DOT reviewed their proposal and lowered the subsidy amounts due to lower projected fuel prices and a reduced forecast flying time.  The subsidy amount has been lowered to $1,198,222 per year, a reduction of $327,461 from the original proposal.

According to Mike Wilson, Transportation Director for Aberdeen, there will not be a gap in service during the transition from Mesaba/Pinnacle to SkyWest, and it will be a smooth transition since they are both operating as Delta Connection.  SkyWest will begin operating in Aberdeen sometime in March, restoring our flights to 14 per week soon after.  The travelling public may not even notice that a new airline is operating in Aberdeen.  The regional jets that are currently here will still be here, they will still say Delta Airlines on the side and the passengers will still be flying on Delta Airlines.  The only noticeable difference will be the return of two flights each day, including weekends, and the aircraft will say “operated by SkyWest” in small letters on the side of the fuselage.