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Quincy council recommends Contour Airlines for Essential Air Service, adds Nashville option
Summary
After weeks of committee review and public comment, the Quincy City Council voted to recommend Contour Airlines as the community's preferred carrier under the federal Essential Air Service program, approving an amended recommendation that starts with Chicago service and preserves a planned option to add Nashville service later.
The Quincy City Council voted to recommend Corporate Flight Management Inc., doing business as Contour Airlines, as the community's preferred carrier under the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) program, approving an amendment to start service to Chicago O'Hare with a community option to add Nashville at a later date.
The vote came after the Airport Director, Bill Lance, told the council the EAS subcommittee "agreed that Chicago was a better option" for rebuilding reliability and passenger counts, and that the Contour proposal had two options: Chicago-only or Chicago with Nashville. The council amended the community recommendation to include an expectation that Nashville be added later, though council members and staff said any route change would need agreement from the airline and follow-up contracts.
Why it matters: The selection determines which airline the city will recommend to the U.S. Department of Transportation for federally subsidized service. Council members said jet service offers a better chance of restoring higher enplanement levels and meeting the 10,000-enplanement threshold that drives larger subsidies and broader connectivity for business travelers.
Details and debate
Bill Lance, the airport director, said the committee found roughly a 50/50 split in recent enplanements between Chicago and St. Louis but that "Chicago O'Hare is the 4th largest air hub in the US" and was likely to give better connectivity. He also summarized that Contour and the committee believed jet service would raise passenger counts quickly; "Contour has, in a very short time period increased passenger counts in all those airports by at least 50%," he said.
Public comment included a warning from Don Blickhand, a retired Army officer and retired priest, who urged the council to consider demand for St. Louis service. Blickhand said, "over half the traffic goes to Saint Louis and back" and cautioned that choosing Contour could risk losing local St. Louis connections that many residents prefer.
Council members pressed for written assurances that Contour would add Nashville if requested. Mayor and staff said the council's action is a community recommendation to DOT; final contracts and operational details will be worked out with DOT and the airline. The council's amendment asks the city to pursue a contract that preserves a practical path to add Nashville service without restarting a full DOT selection process.
Vote and outcome
The council approved the amended recommendation by roll call: 12 ayes, 1 nay (Bergman), 1 absent. The mayor and staff will forward the community's recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation's EAS office and continue contract discussions with Contour.
What happens next
The DOT reviews community recommendations and issues the final carrier selection and subsidy award. City staff said further negotiations with Contour and DOT will determine the final route schedule, the timing for any Nashville service, and precise subsidy terms.
Quotes in context are drawn from the meeting record and from statements by Airport Director Bill Lance and public commenter Don Blickhand recorded during the EAS discussion.
