Air Wisconsin Eyes Essential Air Service Contracts

Air Wisconsin has quite a history, switching from one major airline to another but always using regional aircraft. When it first started in the 1960s. the carrier had its own branding, but eventually fell under the mainline carriers, such as United Express, US Airways Express, United Express again, and most recently American Eagle.

The airline already operates in many small cities under the banners of larger carriers, flying hundreds of flights a day out of multiple hubs. Currently, Air Wisconsin also operates to a single Essential Air Service market: Waterloo, Iowa, but that contract is controlled by American Airlines.

Now, the airline is seeking its own Essential Air Service contracts.

An American Eagle operated by PSA Airlines CRJ-200 in Charlotte (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Two Markets

Air Wisconsin has submitted proposals for two EAS contracts in Burlington, Iowa, and Quincy, Illinois. However, this Air Wisconsin contract is different from other regional contracts that have been submitted in the past.

The proposal for both markets show very similar aspects, with the only difference being the subsidy rates. In these proposals, Air Wisconsin seems to be distancing itself from American by using its own brand. Still, a codeshare with American is still planned for Burlington and Quincy.

Another interesting aspect, despite being able to connect to the larger American Airlines network out of Chicago, is the difference in baggage rules. Air Wisconsin said it would offer one complimentary checked bag per passenger and also zero change fees.

This is a big change, as with the SkyWest EAS contracts that have United codeshares, those flights follow the same baggage fees and ticket restrictions as the larger carrier. Flights will also be directly bookable on Air Wisconsin’s website, as well as American’s.

The airline also lists the CRJ-200 aircraft seating capacity and max payload as “unrestricted,” with its proposal and larger aircraft “allow[ing] us to carry more passengers and provide more opportunity than other EAS airlines.”

In Burlington, Air Wisconsin is proposing two options: the first one includes 12 weekly round-trip flights to Chicago O’Hare at a subsidy rate of around $7.4 million in the contract’s second year. The second option proposes service to both Chicago and St. Louis with 12 total round-trip flights at a rate of slightly under $7.4 million in year two.

Air Wisconsin is proposing similar offerings in Quincy with two options. The first one includes 12 weekly round-trip flights to Chicago at a second-year rate of nearly $7.4 million. It is also proposing 12 weekly round-trip flights to Chicago and St. Louis at nearly $7.3 million in the second year.

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Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

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