The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has ordered United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) to maintain its Dickinson operations until such time that an Essential Air Service (EAS) selection-case for the North Dakota town has been successfully concluded.
Earlier this month, United said it would end its Denver International-Dickinson United Express flights with effect from September 27 owing to a downturn in demand brought on by a slump in the price of oil, the town's primary export.
However, the DOT has objected to the move on the grounds it would leave Dickinson with no air links for an indeterminate amount of time.
"United’s proposed termination of service would cause Dickinson to be left with no air service and, therefore, the Department is required by law to prohibit United from terminating such service at the end of its 90-day notice, i.e., September 27, 2016, 'if the Secretary has not found another carrier to provide basic EAS.'"
"As such, the Department will require United to continue to maintain its current level of service at the community for successive 30-day periods until the Department has completed processing the air carrier-replacement case and the selected air carrier has initiated service."
The DOT has issued an RFP from parties interested in beginning EAS services to Dickinson with August 15 the deadline for submissions.
