The U.S. Department of Transportation this week selected American Airlines to provide Essential Air Service at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois.
The carrier will take over a single route currently operated by Contour Airlines linking Veterans Airport with Chicago O’Hare. American will start service in August, and its contract will continue through July 31, 2028.
Veterans Airport is located in Williamson County and serves nearby Marion.
According to the DOT, American beat out three other contenders for the contract – Contour, Denver Air Connection, and SkyWest. American’s offer is the most comprehensive and financially competitive, officials said, and community stakeholders, including the city of Marion and the leadership of Veterans Airport, expressed “strong support” for American in letters to the department.
The airline is expected to operate 12 round-trip flights per week between Marion and Chicago O’Hare using 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 or Embraer E170 aircraft. It will receive a subsidy of $4.9 million for its first year at Veterans Airport and $5.1 million for its second.
The DOT also extended Contour’s existing contract through Aug. 31 to ensure there will be no gap in coverage.
The EAS program subsidizes air service to small communities and rural areas that otherwise would not be profitable.
