Contour Airlines and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced that the regional carrier will launch new daily service next month from O’Hare International Airport to three small communities across the Midwest as a part of the federal government’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program. The airports that will be served from O’Hare for the first time include: 

• Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion, Illinois (MWA) 
• Kirksville Regional Airport in Kirksville, Missouri (IRK) 
• Owensboro–Daviess County Airport in Owensboro, Kentucky (OWB) 

Contour’s air service to all three destinations will be offered 12 times per week, with twice-daily service scheduled five days per week and once-daily service scheduled twice a week.  The service is offered as a part of the federal government’s Essential Air Service program, which aims to maintain air service to small communities across the country that would not otherwise be profitable.  

Each of Contour’s new destinations were previously served by Cape Air to either Nashville, Tennessee (BNA) or St. Louis, Missouri (STL). None of the three destinations have ever had scheduled passenger service to O’Hare. EAS is a key component of the extensive flight network offered at O’Hare International Airport.

Contour’s new service will increase the number of cities served by EAS from O’Hare to 18.