Great Lakes takes over Quincy contract, may start sooner
QUINCY, IL -- Travelers who use the Quincy airport can look forward to a new airline getting them to their destination.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Essential Air Service contract to Great Lakes Aviation.
Regions Air still has a contract with the city until July 31, but its planes are grounded for at least another 30 days.
Great Lakes has been approved to begin service as soon as possible.
Quincy Mayor John Spring recommended Great Lakes for the service over Regions and Mesa, which currently provides flights to Chicago.
"I recommended Great Lakes because I think their company has all the wherewithal financially and with staffing," Spring said. "They have all the resources to make this work, but most importantly I recommended them because it continues the seamless connection to the Saint Louis hub."
Mayor Spring plans to meet with the CEO of Great Lakes Aviation to discuss how soon the company can offer flights to Saint Louis.
It could take weeks, if not months, for Great Lakes to get everything in place to begin air service.
That's why U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today sent a letter to the President of American Eagle Airlines asking that airline to work with Great Lakes to get flights started immediately.
He hopes American Eagle might be able to offer flights between now and when Great Lakes takes over.
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