Two airlines seeking to serve Decatur Airport

A SkyWest Airlines jet sits outside the Decatur Airport terminal Thursday morning ahead of its return flight to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The selection of SkyWest in 2019 brought with it a switch from prop planes to jet service, which was highly sought after by local businesses.

DECATUR — Community members have until Sept. 29 to provide feedback on the two options for a new commercial air service at Decatur Airport.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requested proposals on July 11 for Essential Air Service for a new contract term. The two companies that submitted proposals are Southern Airways Express LLC and Contour Airlines, and those proposals were posted online on Aug. 10.

In its proposal, Palm Beach, Florida-based Southern provides two options. The first is for 36 weekly round trips from Decatur to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The second option calls for 24 weekly round trips to O'Hare and 12 weekly round trips to St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The proposal cites average fares of $67 and $63, respectively.

The proposal calls for the use of nine-passenger turboprop Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. The company also operates Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft. The company boasts 650 employees, 270 pilots and 50 aircraft, with partnerships with American, Alaskan, United and Hawaiian airlines.

Southern is seeking a first-year subsidy of $4.5 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The proposal is for a period of two to four years..

Contour's proposal calls for 1,248 "scheduled flight segments" to O'Hare with average fares of $65 on its 30-seat Embraer regional jet. The company began a partnership with American Airlines in 2019.

Smyrna, Tennessee-based Contour is seeking a $7.2 million federal subsidy for the first year. The proposal is for a period of three years.

The proposals are available online at regulations.gov under docket number DOT-OST-2006-23929, along with the request for comments on the proposals.

The U.S. Department of Transportation subsidizes Essential Air Service for communities like Decatur to ensure that people in less populated areas have access to air travel.

The new carrier will replace SkyWest Airlines, a regional partner of United Express, which has served Decatur since 2020. SkyWest announced in March 2022 that is seeking to end its contract to provide commercial service at 29 airports, including Decatur, citing a pilot shortage.

It offers 13 flights a week from Decatur to O'Hare.

Airport Director Tim Wright said it could be a month or even two after the end of the 45-day comment period before a decision is announced, but that Decatur will not be without air service while that process is underway.

When SkyWest was chosen in 2019, Decatur business leaders, including Archer Daniels Midland Co., expressed a preference for jet service rather than prop planes. That is still the case, Wright said.

"ADM does continue to use a commuter service for employees through SkyWest Airlines as schedules see fit," said ADM spokesman Dane Lisser.

Wright said he is unable to comment specifically on the proposals as yet.

"We're still in the process of looking at the proposals," Wright said, because the two proposals were just received.

The proposals were not extensively discussed at the August park board meeting, but should be on the agenda for the Sept. 6 meeting, he said.

1934: Letters 26 feet high spell the word "Decatur" at the airport northwest of the city. The entire word is 188 feet long and is visible from a height of more than 10,000 feet. The letters are made by filling a trench with whitewashed stone. The Illinois aeronautics commission requested the marker.

1951: Welcoming the initial flight of Ozark Airlines to Indianapolis after the company began operations here was this group. Then Mayor Robert E. Willis, on steps, greeted Ladie Hamilton, Ozark president. Others, left to right, are Ambrose Moran, Ray L. Burkeybile, Kenneth L. Hebel and Norman Lents, Park Board member.

1932: New airport

1932

1933

1941: Many air miles away, fliers now can see the hangar at the Decatur airport. This week the hangar was given a coat of aluminum paint. And yesterday black letters, D-E-C-A-T-U-R, were painted on the hangar roof. The airport now can be easily identified. Shown near the hangar, in this aerial photograph taken from the west, are seven planes. Last night the Decatur Airport Co., through the airport committee of the Association of Commerce, offered all facilities at the airport to the Park district. With the offer, the committee requested the Park board to order an election on a special levy enabling it to acquire and operate a modern airport under a proposed expansion. The Park board will ask the Illinois Aeronautics commission to make an engineering survey for the development.

1938: A crowd estimated at 5,000 stood in a burning sun yesterday afternoon to watch aviators do unusual stunts over the Decatur airport yesterday in a show sponsored by the Junior Association of Commerce. Pictured is a plane as it landed on a platform atop a speeding auto.

1932: Airplane hangar

1930: Dorothy Pyor and Lois Borchers were Decatur's first women pilots. Their flying teacher, Robert W. Shrock, leans against the plane.

1941: Development of the Decatur airport by the park district was requested of the park board last night by the airport committee of the Association of Commerce, T. G. Wells, committee chairman, told the board that Decatur is in "urgent" need of a modern airport, that a public body must provide it, and that ht epark district is the best qualified public body. The airport hangar has recently been repainted.

1933: Doc Wells and Earl Walker

1932: Proposed airport

1933: Airplane and hangar

1937: Equipped for blind and night flying the above three passenger plane has been placed in service at the Decatur airport for day or night charter flights. Standing before the plane, left to right, are Royal B. McClelland, George Johns, J. K. Flint and Douglas Johnson, all of the airport committee of the Junior Association of Commerce, D. "Dick" Hickman and Vere "Speed" Wikoff, owners ofthe plane.

1943: Wires were being strung on posts two feet above the ground today at the airport as a major step in the installation of field lights. This work is expected to be completed this week and placing of the actual lights by the end of next week. From left to right, L. H. Caldwell and G. C. Osborne (on truck) assist G. D. Cripe, head electrician, in placing the wire cables.

1946: Planes and plane parts, twisted steel from hangars and debris of various kinds littered the old Decatur airport west of the city today after a freak wind cut a narrow path through the field, completely destroyed 20 planes and damaged a number of others. The wind struck at 10:15 a.m. yesterday. One ship was lifted up, carried 200 yards, and set down again without damage. A twin-engined Cessna was in a metal hangar unanchored. The hangar was lifted off its foundation and scattered across the field but the plane was not moved nor damaged. Another Cessna was picked up and flopped over on a sister ship. Engines were torn off and scattered around the field. One ship, anchored slightly to one side of the twister's path, had its tire blown out but suffered no other damage. Hunter Moody, operator of the airport, went into his office during the storm and watched her blow.

1943: Flying instructors at the Decatur airport have received their new uniforms which designate them as members of the army air force reserve and in Civil Aeronautics authority war training service. The uniforms are regulation army air forces officers' uniforms but contain distinctive insignia. Those who are in the first row, left to right are Elmer Wicker, assistant chief instructor; R. J. Snell, assistant chief instructor; John Beadleston, John Glatz, and Del Carroll, instructors. Second row, left to right, Elmo Morthole, Harry Myslicki, Keith McKelvey, and Jack Kennedy, all instructors, and Carl Shelton, chief instructor.

1943: Representatives of the Civil Aeronautics administration and the Illinois Aeronautics association met with park board representatives yesterday to discuss definite plans for the government-financed construction of a large airport here next year. Left to right are: Roy M. Black, chairman of the airport committee of the park board; Ralph Monroe, park board attorney; John J. Hogan, district airport engineer, CAA, and Norman C. Bird, airport engineer, Illinois Aeronatuics association.

1944: The construction of the new 3,500 machine shop at the old Decatur airport has been completed and the building is now in use. The shop was built following a fire in May which destroyed the old shop and hangar. It was ordered built by the Civil Aeronautics administration, and permission was granted by the Decatur park board, which controls the port land. It was built at the expense of the Decatur Aviation Co. The new shop will assure the proper servicing of planes, and it is hoped that erection of a hanger will follow shortly, Manager Carl Shelton said. More equipment for the shop will be purchased as soon as possible as most of the old machines were destroyed by the fire, he said.

1932: Airport dedication

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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