The Federal Aviation Administration approved the airport’s request to terminate their Essential Air Service provider contract with Southern Airways Express, citing struggles with operational reliability, especially during winter months.
The airport’s new jet-service airline, Denver Air Connection, will offer 24-weekly flights to and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport using 30- and 50-seat regional jets with service beginning November 1st. Denver Air Connection boasts an over-99% completion rate with 80% of their flights arriving and departing on-time across their network. The airliner also shares ticketing and baggage agreements with United, American, and Delta Airlines.
Since 2019, the number of passengers utilizing the airport, located in Norton Shores, dropped by 80%, in part due to pilot shortages caused by the COVID pandemic. In 2019, the airport served 40,000 passengers. This year, that number has decreased to 5,000.
Airport officials hope that the new service, along with terminal and runway renovations thanks to an over $20 million grant from the federal government, will get residents utilizing the airport again.
