Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has added nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth from Columbus, Ohio and Fargo, North Dakota, to accommodate customers traveling to the respective College Football Playoff and FCS Championship games.
The temporary service will operate as follows:
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-351 B585NW (msn 32985) departs from Los Angeles.
Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show: 
United Airlines (Chicago) will start nonstop United Express service from its Houston (Bush Intercontinental) to the oil patch area at Williston in the western part of North Dakota starting on August 19. The new route will be operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta) and was announced by Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota. ExpressJet already flies the Williston-Denver route for United Airlines (see the map below).
Read the full report from The Republic: CLICK HERE
Additionally, United will also commence nonstop United Express service from its Denver hub to Lafayette, Indiana also starting on August 19 per Airline Route.
The carrier will start daily nonstop Houston (Bush Intercontinental)-Hartford/Springfield Embraer 175 flights starting on October 15.
Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. United Express Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N16559 (msn 145603) operated by ExpressJet Airlines prepares to land in Charlotte.
United Airlines (current): 
United Express-ExpressJet: 
United Express-ExpressJet Route Map:
Great Lakes Airlines (Cheyenne) has announced it will end Essential Air Service (EAS) passenger service a month early at Great Bend, Kansas on April 1. The struggling regional carrier will also end passenger flights at Dickinson, North Dakota on March 26 after 21 years. Williston, North Dakota will be dropped on March 30. Great Lakes will also suspend operations at McCook, Nebraska on April 1. The airline is blaming a pilot shortage but critics state the company does pay enough to attract enough pilots.
SeaPort Airlines has bid on the routes with the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Great Lakes has received permission to operate some of their Beech 1900Ds with only 9 seats (please see the seating diagram below) rather than the normal 19 seats so the aircraft can be operated under Part 135 regulations. This allows the company to hire First Officers who have less the 1500 hours FAA requirement. The aircraft still have a captain with at least 1500 hours of experience with an ATP rating. Even with this measure, the airline was not able to stave off the termination of service to these affected cities.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N201GL (msn UE-201) with a promotional Pierre, South Dakota image on the tail arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Great Lakes: 
The shrinking Great Lakes Route Map (routes shown as of February 1):
Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes Airlines) (Cheyenne, Wyoming) on February 1 suspended service to and from Devils Lake and Jamestown, North Dakota; Fort Dodge and Mason City, Iowa; Ironwood, Michigan; and Thief River Falls, Minnesota due to the severe industry-wide pilot shortage and its relative acute impact on Great Lakes according to a company statement.
Charles Howell, CEO released the following statement: “Due to the unintended consequences of the new congressionally mandated pilot regulatory requirements, the company feels it is in the best interest of our customers, communities, and employees to suspend service from these stations until we are able to rebuild our staff of pilots in order to provide reliable service. We deeply regret and apologize for this inconvenience.”
All customers with future flights in any of these stations will be given refunds.
Editor’s Comment: Many pilots and pilot groups (as the comments will attest) would strongly argue it is not a pilot shortage issue facing GLA but a pay issue. Simply put, higher pilot wages would probably attract more applications.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Great Lakes promotes many of its destination with area displays on the tails. Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N202UX (msn UE-202) promotes Dodge City, Kansas as it arrives in Los Angeles.
Great Lakes Airlines:
Updated Route Map: Despite its name, the airline does not serve a city on any of the Great Lakes.
