Air service to change at two Iowa airports: Sioux City and Waterloo

Airports in Sioux City and Waterloo, Iowa, will come under the federal Essential Air Service program for the first time starting April 3, when American Eagle takes over service from a Delta Airlines regional affiliate.

Source Omaha World-Herald

Jan. 19, 2012

2 min read

American Eagle, affiliated with American Airlines, said Monday that its daily nonstop flights will connect Chicago with the two northern Iowa communities, replacing the Delta flights to and from Minneapolis.

Curt Miller, director of the Sioux Gateway Airport, said Delta notified the U.S. Department of Transportation last summer that it would not continue air service to a number of communities, including Waterloo and Sioux City, without the subsidy program. That put the air service up for bid. American Eagle's winning bid was for a subsidy of about $1.5 million a year based on 51,000 passengers, a recent annual average. That's about $29 per flight.

American Eagle, based in Fort Worth, Texas, said Monday that flights from Sioux City to Chicago will leave at 6:30 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. and from Chicago to Sioux City will leave at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Flights from Waterloo to Chicago will leave at 6:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., and from Chicago to Waterloo will leave at 2:45 p.m. and 7:50 p.m.

American Eagle connects with American's flights at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. The Sioux City and Waterloo flights will use 44-seat Embraer jets.

Miller said Delta has indicated that it would offer refunds or transfers for people who have made reservations on Delta flights scheduled after the airline discontinues its service to Sioux City.

Waterloo is northeast of Des Moines. The change in Sioux City may have a "minimal" impact on Omaha's Eppley Airfield, said Chris Martin, operations director for the Omaha Airport Authority.