EAS board to decide local flights’ future

EAS board to decide local flights' future

The control of rural Montana air travel is up in the air this week, as the Essential Air Service board meets in Billings on Thursday.

Representatives of the two airlines that offered bids for the Department of Transportation program, current service provider Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines and newcomer Florida-based Gulfstream Airlines, will meet with the board to argue for their proposals. Then the board will decide who gets the approximately $8 million to fly Montanans about.

The board is made up of representatives of eight of Montana's smaller...