ST. CLOUD -- The airline which offers twice-daily flights between St. Cloud and Chicago has informed St. Cloud city officials they will suspend those flights a month earlier than originally announced.

Mayor Dave Kleis says they received a letter from SkyWest Airlines indicating they will be suspending the flights March 1st.

SkyWest, which flies for United Airlines, had announced before Christmas the flights would be lifted April 1st.

Kleis says the local and federal subsidy which was offered to prevent SkyWest from incurring losses during the first year will run out this month, prompting the airline to end the flights 30 days earlier to avoid additional revenue losses.

The mayor says they will work for both short-term and long-term solutions to sustained air service.

Kleis will be in St. Paul tomorrow (Wednesday) lobbying lawmakers for an appropriation to get the flights back short-term. He says they will also be working to create a regional airport authority which would create long-term sustainability.

 

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