Council backs SkyWest recommendation for Watertown’s Essential Air Service

The Watertown City Council voted Feb. 3 to authorize the mayor and interim city manager to send a letter recommending SkyWest Airlines to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as the community’s carrier under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

Airport Manager Ian Merriweather summarized the airport board’s process, saying the board held two meetings (one about 3½ hours and a second about 45 minutes) during which applicants made presentations and the board reviewed proposals and aircraft options. "We had 3 actually very good applications," Merriweather said. "The board came to their decision within the best interest of what they believe to help Watertown and its flying public."

Jerry Scribe, vice chair of the Watertown Airport Board, and Wes Wilkins, chair of the airport board, explained the board’s recommendation and cited several factors that favored SkyWest. The board emphasized full codeshare capability with major carriers (SkyWest operates as a regional partner for Delta, United, American and Alaska), which the board said reduces confusion for connecting passengers, simplifies ticketing and better supports business travelers. Jerry Scribe told the council that SkyWest’s codeshare arrangements mean a single itinerary and more seamless rebooking during irregular operations; he said that finding was a major part of the board’s evaluation.

The airport board also noted economic considerations. According to board discussion presented to council, SkyWest’s subsidy request was lower than Denver Air Connection’s by about $535,000 in the first two years and about $1,470,000 in the second two years, yielding roughly $2 million less requested subsidy over four years. The board presented that figure as likely influential to the DOT, which considers compensation as part of its selection criteria.

Council members pressed for clarity on Minneapolis (MSP) routing and code-share details. Some council members said Denver Air Connection had included a Minneapolis option in its written proposal while SkyWest did not include Minneapolis in its initial EAS proposal; SkyWest representatives later indicated they would pursue a Minneapolis routing with a Delta partner if selected. Airport board members said a Minneapolis option would require an additional petition to DOT but that a change usually is possible if the subsidy request does not change.

Councilman Peters said he would vote no because SkyWest’s Minneapolis option was not in SkyWest’s original written proposal; other council members said they had confidence in the airport board’s detailed review, noting SkyWest’s operational scale, codeshare advantages for business travelers and the four‑member airport board’s unanimous recommendation. The council voted by roll call; the motion to authorize the mayor and interim manager to recommend SkyWest to DOT passed with one recorded no vote (Councilman Peters).

Airport board leaders noted the board’s vote was unanimous. Merriweather told the council the board had held extensive questioning about reliability, connectivity and marketing, and that SkyWest’s offer to explore Minneapolis service and to position overnight equipment to support early-morning departures for business travelers factored into the recommendation. The council’s formal recommendation will be forwarded to DOT; DOT makes the final choice under the Essential Air Service program.