Area officials are pleased with the selection of Great Lakes Aviation to provide commercial air service to Dickinson and Williston and at the same time hope an additional flight may be possible.

"I'm happy they were selected," said Williston Airport Manager Rick Marburger of the $2.3 Essential Air Service contract awarded to Great Lakes.

The two-year deal establishes that Great Lakes is to offer 18 weekly nonstop roundtrip flights to Denver, said Matthew Remynse, Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport manager.

Every two years, commuter airlines compete for federal funds to provide service to communities like Dickinson and Williston that are not near major airports, said Marburger. This year, there were two proposals to continue serving both airports -- Great Lakes Aviation and Sovereign Air of Belcourt, N.D.

After evaluating the proposals, the Williston City Commission passed a resolution supporting Great Lakes Aviation, which has been part of the Williston Airport family for about 15 years, said Marburger. Flight frequency and customer service were among the services compared, said Marburger. Great Lakes was chosen since it provides four roundtrip flights every day from Williston, along with luggage transfer for passengers using Frontier Airlines or United Airlines. From the four roundtrip flights, three stop in Dickinson and one in Gillette, Wyo., before reaching Denver, Marburger added.

Marburger believes, however, one more flight to Denver is needed to satisfy the current demand in the area.

"We need another one just because they are running so full that running into any snag –weather wise or maintenance wise – gets (us) backed up for a few days," said Marburger.

The other airline that submitted a proposal for federal funding offered two roundtrip flights daily without luggage transfer.

Marburger estimates about 2,000 people use the Williston Airport on a monthly basis.

The federal funds Great Lakes receives pays for expenses related to the offering 18 weekly flights to Denver through the Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport only. Expenses incurred at the Williston Airport aren't be covered with these funds because the airport is not part of the Essential Air Service Program.

"It works out well for them, and it works great for us to have this much service as a small airport," said Marburger.

One of the benefits of having a shared route between Williston and Dickinson before reaching Denver is the probability planes are going to run at capacity, said Remynse.

The U.S. Department of Transportation states the Essential Air Service program mandates that small communities are to receive a minimal level of scheduled air service by certificated air carriers. The program was created following the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which gives airlines significant freedom to chose what markets to serve as well as the fares to charge.

Overall, Marburger is pleased with the service Great Lakes is providing to the Williston community. He is confident there is enough traffic in Williston to fill a 50-passenger jet on a daily basis, and he hopes Great Lakes will begin offering connections to eastern states, as well as Minneapolis.

Remynse agrees with Marburger in that more flights are needed to satisfy demand in the region.

Great Lakes Aviation is based out of Cheyenne, Wyo. Airline representatives were not available for comment.