Federally subsidized flights out of Denver International Airport, including to places like Pueblo, Alamosa and Cortez, remain cleared for takeoff during the government shutdown.
For now.
Funding for essential air service was set to lapse Sunday. But U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy last week announced that his agency found $41 million to keep the program in the air through at least early November.
That’s big news for DIA, which has the largest number of federally subsidized essential air service routes of anywhere in the nation, according to the airport. There were nearly 30 EAS routes offered out of Denver late last year.
EAS was created by Congress as a way to ensure commercial flights still served small and rural communities after airline deregulation happened in 1978. The program funnels hundreds of millions of federal dollars each year toward airlines that operate EAS routes in exchange for guaranteed service.
But even if the federal government shutdown drags into November, and it very well might, carriers operating essential air service flights out of Denver — SkyWest Airlines, Denver Air Connection and Contour Airlines — have vowed to continue flying EAS routes for as long as they can.
“Denver Air Connection wishes to assure all our partner communities and guests that we have no intention of suspending service or cancelling flights,” Jon Coleman, senior vice president for strategy and business development at Denver Air Connection, said in a written statement. “We understand how important these flights are for our passengers. For the foreseeable future, all DAC flights will operate as scheduled.”
Denver Air Connection, which is under the umbrella of Colorado-based Key Lime Air, flies EAS routes to Pueblo, Alamosa and Cortez from Denver. It also has flights from Denver to small communities in Nebraska and New Mexico.
“Denver Air continues to be a great partner for our community. Kudos to them for stepping up,” Greg Pedroza, Pueblo’s director of aviation, told The Colorado Sun.
SkyWest Airlines said in a written statement that it is “working with each community and evaluating our capabilities in the event of a longer-term government shutdown.”
“It is our intent to honor our service commitments, including those under the federal EAS program who rely on SkyWest’s reliable air service as an essential economic lifeline,” the airline said in a written statement.
SkyWest flies EAS destinations from Denver including Prescott, Arizona; Sioux City, Iowa; and Dodge City, Kansas.
Contour Airlines, which flies EAS routes to Moab and Vernal in Utah from Denver, released a similar statement.
Delays at DIA
While the shutdown, now in its third week, hasn’t had an effect on the essential air service route offerings from Denver, the hub has seen flight delays as a result of the ongoing congressional gridlock.
Transportation Security Administrations officers and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers are required to continue working without pay during the shutdown. They are considered essential workers.
But some are calling in sick or otherwise not showing up to their shifts as a result, and that has slowed down air travel at DIA — which is one of the world’s busiest airports.
“TSA and FAA Air Traffic Control staff are required to continue working unpaid during a federal shutdown. That being said, we cannot guarantee that TSA and FAA staffing (will) not be affected,” the airport said in a written statement. “We recommend getting to the airport at least two hours prior to boarding time and checking with your airline directly for any updates on your flight. Real-time TSA security wait times can be found at flydenver.com/security and delays/cancellations can be found at flightaware.com.”
Federal workers who are deemed essential and are required to work during the shutdown are supposed to receive backpay once the shutdown ends. However, President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to ignore that longstanding policy.