Meeting held to discuss Chippewa Valley air travel options

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – The discussion over which one of two airlines will fly in the Chippewa Valley took off at this morning’s (6/26/234) Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission meeting. Board members and Chippewa Valley residents gathered to review the summary of two EAS, or Essential Air Service, proposals.

Sun Country proposed continued service through September of 2028. Which would include at least three flights per week to Minneapolis. While Sky West proposed a 3-year contract, with 12 non-stop roundtrip flights per week to O’Hare in Chicago.

The summary was led virtually by Aviation Consultant, Mike Mooney. He says pilot shortages, which caused Sky West to leave the region in 2022, have eased up, “The industry has now stabilized. The pilot pipeline is back to shall we say producing pilots at a good rate.”

Members of the public also spoke at the meeting. Some are in favor of staying with Sun Country, as it offers seasonal flights to vacation destinations like Florida and Las Vegas. While others voiced their approval of Sky West, as it connects to the O’Hare Airport in Chicago for easier flights for business.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has asked for a letter of community support, but ultimately the decision is up to the dot.