CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — SkyWest Airlines will take over United Express flights from Yeager Airport to Chicago and Washington, D.C., beginning May 19.
Everything is in place for the arrival of St. George-based SkyWest except the sign over the ticket counter.
"We're ready to hang up our sign and take over," said station manager Todd Matney.
Atlantic Coast Airlines has operated the United Express flights to Washington since 1989 and Chicago since 1998. Atlantic Coast Airlines plans to begin operations as Independence Air, an independent, low-fare carrier, on June 16.
Passengers flying from Charleston to Chicago or Washington won't notice a difference since both airlines will fly planes painted with United Express' logo, said Brian Belcher, Yeager's marketing director and director of air service development.
SkyWest will continue to fly a 50-seat regional jet to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport twice a day. The airline is subcontracting with Shuttle America to fly its three daily flights to Washington's Dulles International Airport. Passengers will fly on Shuttle America's 34-seat turboprops, instead of the 30-seat turboprops ACA is currently using. SkyWest will do all the ground operations, like ticketing and baggage handling, for Shuttle America's flights.
ACA employed 20 people at Yeager. SkyWest kept four and hired 13 new employees, Matney said.
Nationally, SkyWest operates as a partner carrier to United, Delta and Continental Airlines. It serves 101 cities and flies an average of 717 of its 1,227 daily flights for United.