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MOAB — A major airline service change has now been finalized for a pair of airports in eastern Utah.
Canyonlands Regional Airport and Vernal Regional Airport both announced this week that they've secured deals with Redtail Air Adventures and Contour Airlines that will allow for commercial airline service to continue at both airports, replacing service previously offered by SkyWest Airlines over the past few years.
The operating change will open new flights to and from Phoenix in the near future while maintaining flights to and from Salt Lake City International Airport, but it also marks the end of service to Denver for both airports.
Vernal city officials explained in a news release Tuesday that the change became a "necessity" after the U.S. Department of Transportation determined that SkyWest had "disqualified itself from competing for a new contract." They added the St. George-based airline's current "business approach" ultimately "failed to meet federal requirements despite several attempts."
Canyonlands airport officials added Thursday that this was also the case regarding the Moab airport. They wrote that SkyWest made "noble" efforts to reach a new contract, but their multiple bids were rejected by the Department of Transportation over qualification concerns.
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the rejections; however, Bloomberg News reported in August that SkyWest's "ambitious plan to keep and expand service in small U.S. cities" was still awaiting federal approval a year after it was submitted to the Department of Transportation. The agency didn't explain what was behind the holdup.
The Federal Aviation Administration also announced in August that it was considering rule changes to charter flight service regulations to align them closer to larger airlines "as a way to increase safety," the outlet added.
SkyWest officials told Bloomberg News at the time that their plan "complies with all commercial standards." They also said that charter service is the only way to continue air service for many smaller communities, according to the Associated Press.
Moab-based Redtail Air Adventures and Contour Airlines, headquartered in Tennessee, emerged as the top candidates during the eight-month contract process for Canyonlands and Vernal regional airports, as this was all unfolding.
Contour will begin service that connects the two airports with Phoenix beginning as early as Feburary 2024, officials from both airports said. RedTail will operate two weekly flights between Salt Lake City and Moab, and two weekly flights from Salt Lake City and Vernal beginning on Oct. 31.
Both announcements were met with mixed reactions from residents on social media.
"This is a huge step backwards for the residents of Grand County," one person wrote on Facebook, in response to Canyonlands Regional Airport's announcement. Another person wrote that the change from Denver to Phoenix would "completely deter me from using this airport again."
Similar sentiments and concerns were voiced in reaction to Vernal Regional Airport's announcement, though some were also excited for the new service.
The changes may only be temporary. For example, Vernal city officials note that commercial flights in and out of the city are subsidized by the FAA and its contract bids occur every three years.
