THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. SkyWest Airlines is expected to return to the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport later this year, providing flights with CRJ-200 jets like this one. (Photo by Eric Salard | CC BY-SA 2.0)

After a two-year absence, SkyWest Airlines will again serve Chippewa Valley Regional Airport with nonstop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, assuming federal regulators approve a recent airport commission decision.

The move will end Sun Country Airlines’ status as the Essential Air Service provider at the Eau Claire airport. Since 2022, Sun Country has offered three flights a week to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Boeing 737 jets as well as periodic flights to Florida and La Vegas.

By contrast, SkyWest – operating with United Airlines branding – proposed offering a dozen nonstop, round-trip flights to O’Hare on CRJ-200 regional jets, according to airport documents. At a special meeting July 8, the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission voted 6-1 to choose SkyWest over Sun Country for a three-year contract.

“There was a lot of factors that went into the decision but ultimately the Airport Commission believes the SkyWest proposal will provide the best opportunity to serve the greatest number of passengers in the next few years,” said Charity Zich, the airport’s director.

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There was a lot of factors that went into the decision but ultimately the Airport Commission believes the SkyWest proposal will provide the best opportunity to serve the greatest number of passengers in the next few years.

charity zich

chippewa valley regional airport director

In a media release, Airport Commission Chairman Bill Hilgedick added, ““After careful review of all available information, the majority of commissioners felt that SkyWest Airlines would be best positioned to serve the most local passengers given their breadth of connectivity over the course of the contract.”

The recommendation has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which makes the final decision about such contracts, which are subsidized under the Essential Air Service program to ensure airlines serve smaller cities.

SkyWest had previously served the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport from 2010 to 2022. “SkyWest actually said they very much wanted to continue to serve the airport (in 2022),” Zich said, “but a nationwide shortage of pilots caused them to file notice to discontinue service to 29 airports,” including Eau Claire.

Details of the switch-over between the airlines have yet to be worked out, Zich added. Sun Country’s contract runs through Nov. 30, sometimes the DOT requires an existing carrier to stay longer while the new carrier gears up for enter – or in this case, re-entering – a market.

And the door isn’t necessarily closed on Sun Country’s seasonal flights to warm-weather destinations like Nevada and Florida. “We will definitely be working to continue our partnership with Sun Country to keep seasonal flights, but it will likely take some time to determine if that is an option,” Zich said.

The airline switch was met with a mixed reaction by the public. “Great news!” Read one comment on the airport’s Facebook page. “As someone who flew out of this airport weekly, I am in favor of this. Thank you! I will be flying locally again.”

“This obviously makes sense for business travelers,” wrote another, “however the Sun Country flights were way more affordable for those whom want to travel for vacation or with their families. I wish we could have multiple carriers.”

Learn more about the decision by visiting chippewavalleyairport.com and clicking on “Essential Air Service Proposal Updates.”