Decatur renews effort to save United Express jet service

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – The Decatur Airport is taking another shot at keeping its United Express jet service two-years after the airline, operated by SkyWest, said it would pull out of the city.

SkyWest announced in March of 2022, in the wake of the COVID pandemic, it was leaving Decatur and 28 other cities due to a pilot shortage. But Decatur, which is designated as an Essential Air Service (EAS) city, still has United Express operating daily flights.

In the fall of 2023, Decatur notified the U.S. Department of Transportation it was supporting Contour Airlines to provide flights to and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. But there has not been a final decision made.

WAND News obtained a July 16, 2024 request for USDOT to issue a new Request for Proposals. The Decatur Airport says it is aware of SkyWest submitting proposals currently in other EAS communities. Decatur says it would benefit “greatly” from continuing SkyWest – United Express service.

“The community and the fliers have gotten used to United,” Airport Director Tim Wright told WAND News. “Decatur has the only United Service in Central Illinois outside of the Peoria Airport.”

In 2023, more than 10,000 people flew United Express in-and-out of Decatur.