The Federal Department of Transportation has told Skywest Airlines that it must continue to serve 29 smaller cities until a replacement can be found.
That includes Jamestown and Devils Lake.
Skywest flies under the “United Express” brand. It has a contract under the federal Essential Air Service program.
Skywest filed a 90 day notice that it would be discontinuing service, because of a pilot shortage.
North Dakota Aeronautics Commission director Kyle Wanner said he’s happy the federal DOT issued its order.
"What we're going to find out here, is if there are other airlines interested in coming into these communities, or are other airlines seeing these issues," Wanner said. "It could be a difficult situation coming up, where we may be losing air service to communities around the country."
Wanner said he hopes airlines have the ability to step up, and provide proposals to accommodate this transition.
Interested carriers have to submit proposals by April 11th.
Skywest had provided daily flights to Denver from the two North Dakota locations.
