Flights to Denver and Chicago continue as SkyWest withdraws termination notice for Salina

After a few months of uncertainty about passenger air service to and from the community, Salina Regional Airport announced that flights will continue uninterrupted.

On March 10 of this year, the air service, which operates United Express flights at Salina, which travel to and from Chicago and Denver, announced it would terminate the service, due to a pilot shortage impacting the regional airline industry.

That notice to terminate was withdrawn by SkyWest on Friday, June 24, meaning United Express flights will continue as part of the Essential Air Service, a program from the United States Department of Transportation.

The Salina Airport Authority said this news was welcome and comes at a time when there has been a lot of people using the passenger service at the airport.

"Monthly and weekly passenger enplanements at the Salina Airport continue to set new record highs when compared to prior years," the authority said.

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The authority said this service has been a key component to much of the economic growth in the community, including the expansion of the Schwan's pizza plant and Kubota's Great Plains Manufacturing.

"This is good news for the Salina region and for the airport," said Kent Buer, the chairman of the airport authority. "United Airlines has a strong following in Salina and the service offered by SkyWest Airlines has been nothing short of exemplary. We thank SkyWest leadership for their efforts to keep the Salina Airport as part of their system."