The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded an Essential Air Service contract to SkyWest Airlines (OO, St. George Municipal) for services at Moab and Vernal, Utah. The contract, which runs from March 1, 2018 to February 29, 2020, is for a total subsidy of just over USD12 million. The flights will be operated under the United Express brand.
SkyWest will offer 12x weekly flights from each of Moab and Vernal to Denver International aboard 50-seat CRJ200 regional jets. The Utah-based carrier replaces Boutique Air (4B, San Francisco), which was awarded the routes in 2015. Boutique reapplied for the contract but was unsuccessful as comments received from County representatives favoured SkyWest.
In its proposal, Boutique offered 31x weekly flights from Moab to be divided between Denver and Salt Lake City. The frequency would reduce to 21x weekly between November and March. Flights would be operated with 9-seat PC-12 aircraft for an annual subsidy of USD3.8 million. Services from Vernal would consist of 24x weekly trips split between Denver and Salt Lake City, with either King Air 350 (USD3.5 million) or PC-12 aircraft (USD2.8 million).
Although comments received from private citizens strongly favoured Boutique, those from Moab's Grand County Council and Grand County Airport Board, and from Vernal's Uintah County Commission and the City of Vernal all strongly supported SkyWest.
