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United Express via SkyWest to serve Abilene starting March; city funds minimum revenue guarantee

Airport Development Board (Abilene Regional Airport) · November 12, 2025
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Summary

City of Abilene and Development Corporation reached an agreement with SkyWest to restore United Express service (two daily flights to Denver, one to Houston) beginning March 17; airport staff said the City holds the contract and DCOA will fund a minimum revenue guarantee while airport staff will help market the service.

The Airport Development Board was told that United Express service will return to Abilene March 17 under a SkyWest-operated schedule offering two daily departures to Denver and one to Houston InterContinental. Don Green, speaking for airport management, said the agreement is held by the City of Abilene and was supported financially by the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).

"That is not an airport agreement," Green said, explaining airport staff cannot process invoices for the minimum revenue guarantee. "The money comes from DCOA; the city holds that agreement." He and board members urged residents across the airport’s multi-county market to book travel to support the new service.

Green said a temporary fare-display error showed an anomalous high price the night schedules were published — a $1,200 round-trip to Denver — that airport and carrier contacts corrected overnight. "It was an anomaly," he said.

Misty Mayo, DCOA’s CEO, and Emily Crawford, Abilene’s city manager, were cited by staff as partners in securing the service. The board discussed plans for a coordinated marketing campaign and for the airport to contract a local firm to sell advertising on terminal digital screens to promote the route.

The board also reviewed the airport’s existing Air Carrier Incentive Program (ASIP), updated to reflect December 2023 FAA guidance. Don Green said staff are not recommending airport-level incentives for the SkyWest service because SkyWest did not request them and because the city/DCOA arrangement was already in place.

The board’s presentation emphasized that the success of the service depends on passenger demand from Abilene’s larger regional market and on timely ticket sales and marketing.

Next steps: DCOA and the city will continue implementation; airport staff will collaborate on marketing and reserving terminal ad space.