Grand County Unanimously Recommends SkyWest for Moab Airport Air Service Contract

Three years after the U.S. Department of Transportation blocked SkyWest from continuing Essential Air Service at Canyonlands Regional Airport, Grand County commissioners voted unanimously on March 17 to recommend the airline for the next federally subsidized contract, a decision that could define commercial air access to Moab for the next four years.

The county's recommendation now moves to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which holds final authority over the Essential Air Service selection. SkyWest's proposal would restore connections to Salt Lake City and Denver, the two hub routes that matter most to travelers trying to reach anywhere beyond the Colorado Plateau on a single ticket.

The recommendation came after a two-step process that Airport Director Steve Gleason and independent aviation consultant Luke Schmidt drove from the evaluation side. Four competitive proposals reached Canyonlands Regional Airport this cycle, and the county's Airport Subcommittee reviewed each one before voting unanimously to forward SkyWest to the full Commission. Grand County framed the stakes in terms residents and resort operators here will recognize immediately: "The answer shapes more than flight schedules. It determines whether a Moab family can book a single ticket to visit relatives in Philadelphia. Whether a resort manager in Moab can rebook a stranded guest during a Denver snowstorm. Whether the outdoor recreation economy that sustains Grand County can keep growing, or watch visitors drive in from Grand Junction instead."

SkyWest responded to the commission vote with a statement: "We appreciate the Grand County Commission voting to recommend SkyWest Airlines as the next air carrier at Canyonlands Regional Airport. SkyWest is committed to providing quality air service and looks forward to returning seamless access to Salt Lake City and Denver and beyond for Moab travelers."

The airline's path back wasn't without friction. SkyWest served as Moab's commercial carrier until early 2023, when DOT rejected its proposal to continue Essential Air Service because the submission relied on commuter air carrier operating authority the company had not yet received. Contour Airlines stepped in as the current EAS contractor under a contract that expires in September. Contour is also planning to add a second daily flight to Denver starting in April while its existing contract remains active.

The procedural sequence leading to Tuesday's vote played out across three days. Grand County published its evaluation rationale on March 15, explaining how the Airport Subcommittee weighed all four proposals. The Airport Board met March 16 to hear directly from Schmidt and Gleason before voting on its own recommendation. The full Commission followed on March 17 with the unanimous vote that formally sent SkyWest's name to Washington.

DOT has not announced a timeline for its final decision. The names of the other two bidders beyond SkyWest and Contour have not been made public, and specific details about proposed aircraft, service frequencies, and subsidy amounts remain outstanding as the federal review begins.