SkyWest Airlines pulling the plug on service to 29 American cities

March 11, 2022

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown and Pierre are not the only cities feeling disappointment with the loss of SkyWest Airlines service.

The airline announced on Thursday they will terminate Essential Air Service routes to 29 other American cities, including Jamestown and Devils Lake, North Dakota. 

The airline says the move is being made due to pilot staffing issues. The company did not provide city officials with an exact date that flights will end. Paperwork the company says it plans to file with the federal government today includes a formal 90-day termination notice.

North Dakota U.S. Senator Hoeven says his office will be petitioning the federal Department of Transportation to ensure continuing air service to Jamestown Devils Lake without any disruptions.

SkyWest ceased operations in Watertown and Pierre on January 3rd, but both cities have maintained commercial air service with Denver Air Connection.  

The full list of 29 cities that learned Thursday they’re losing SkyWest service are: Alamosa and Pueblo, Colorado, Cape Girardeau, Fort Leonard Wood, and Joplin, Missouri,  Decatur, Illinois,  Devils Lake and Jamestown, North Dakota, Dodge City, Hays, Liberal, and Salina, Kansas, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Fort Dodge, Mason City, and Sioux City, Iowa, Hattiesburg and Meridian, Mississippi, Houghton and Muskegon, Michigan, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Kearney, North Platte, and Scottsbluff, Nebraska,  Lewisburg, West Virginia, Paducah, Kentucky,  Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and Victoria, Texas.