Four airlines have submitted bids to serve South Dakota's capital city under the Essential Air Service federal subsidy program.
The bids to serve Pierre are from Great Lakes Airlines, Aerodynamics Inc., Boutique Air and Key Lime Air.
Great Lakes Airlines currently provides service from Pierre to Denver and Minneapolis, but city officials have been unsatisfied with the service and began looking for a new carrier in 2014. Great Lakes, Aerodynamics and Boutique Air all submitted bids that year.
City officials chose Aerodynamics but later soured on that carrier due to concerns over finances and managerial competence. They then obtained federal permission to reopen the bidding process.
The city has about a month to decide on a new recommendation to the federal Transportation Department.
The bids to serve Pierre are from Great Lakes Airlines, Aerodynamics Inc., Boutique Air and Key Lime Air.
Great Lakes Airlines currently provides service from Pierre to Denver and Minneapolis, but city officials have been unsatisfied with the service and began looking for a new carrier in 2014. Great Lakes, Aerodynamics and Boutique Air all submitted bids that year.
City officials chose Aerodynamics but later soured on that carrier due to concerns over finances and managerial competence. They then obtained federal permission to reopen the bidding process.
The city has about a month to decide on a new recommendation to the federal Transportation Department.