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Grand County airport board recommends alternate EAS contract with Contour Airlines to county commission
Summary
The Grand County Airport Board voted to recommend applying for an alternate Essential Air Service (EAS) contract and to forward Contour Airlines’ proposal to the county commission for approval, aiming to preserve scheduled air service after SkyWest’s withdrawal; the board will present the recommendation to the commission the next day.
The Grand County Airport Board on a voice vote recommended that the county pursue an alternate Essential Air Service (EAS) contract and forward Contour Airlines’ proposal to the county commission for final approval.
Tammy, the airport director, told the board the alternate EAS option would award the federal subsidy to the airport as a grant and allow Grand County to contract directly with a carrier. "With alternate EAS, the airport receives the money as a grant, and then they contract with their chosen airline," she said, and added that DOT retains ultimate approval of the contract.
Contour proposed 12 weekly round trips using 30-seat regional jets (ERJ‑135 or modified CRJ configurations) with an initial routing to Phoenix; Contour representatives told the board the carrier can scale schedules seasonally and pursue other hubs later. Contour’s proposal was described to the board as requiring a three‑year commitment to guarantee equipment and staffing.
Board members debated tradeoffs between smaller‑aircraft proposals (Boutique Air’s 24 weekly PC‑12 flights to Denver) and Contour’s 30‑seat jet service. Several members said larger jets better support higher enplanement counts that justify airport capital upgrades; others noted community preferences for Salt Lake City or Denver as hubs. Tammy said SkyWest’s inability to secure commuter (charter) authority from USDOT constrained traditional EAS options and pushed the county toward alternate EAS.
A board member moved to recommend the alternate EAS application with Contour Airlines and forward the recommendation to the county commission; Jenny seconded. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote and planned to present it to the county commission the following day, when Contour’s CEO was expected to join the commission meeting.
Tammy said airport staff will prepare the alternate‑EAS application packets and the contract management plan required for DOT reporting, and that monthly and quarterly performance reports would be submitted to USDOT under the alternate arrangement. The board’s recommendation does not itself bind the county commission, which must approve any final contract and the use of federal subsidy funds.
Next procedural steps: the airport board will forward its recommendation to the county commission, Contour’s CEO will appear at the commission meeting for questions, and airport staff will complete the alternate‑EAS application before the USDOT deadline discussed during the meeting.
