Contour to begin Essential Air Service flights to LAX and Las Vegas; terminal opening targeted summer 2026

Airport staff updated the City Council on the Merced Regional Airport Terminal Replacement Project and Essential Air Service (EAS) procurement, saying the federal Department of Transportation has selected Contour as the EAS carrier and service is expected to begin July 1, 2026.

Airport staff described program details: Contour will operate 30‑seat regional jets with scheduled round trips to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The airport manager said Contour plans multiple daily round trips and that the carrier will establish code‑share visibility with major carriers at LAX to improve connectivity. Staff said tickets are expected to appear on booking engines (Google Flights and carrier sites) in mid‑April and the EAS carrier transition is slated for July 1.

On the terminal project, staff said federal shutdowns and pending TSA lease approvals have delayed final steps but the terminal is anticipated to open in summer 2026. Airport staff stressed a policy goal to reach 10,000 annual enplanements; meeting that threshold would qualify the airport for an FAA entitlement grant (approximately $1.3 million) to support future improvements.

Council members asked about route flexibility, marketing funds provided under the EAS order, and how Contour’s schedule might support local economic development and future growth. Staff said the DOT’s order included a small annual marketing allocation and that Contour may adjust seasonal schedules with airport coordination.

What to watch: Contour’s published schedule and initial ridership numbers, TSA approvals, and the city’s ability to record enplanements above the FAA 10,000‑enplanement threshold that unlocks additional federal grant funding.