Cape Girardeau one step closer to flights to Chicago

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Quincy, Illinois has changed their original recommendation of Boutique to SkyWest.

Airport manager, Bruce Loy suggests it should not take long for the U.S. Department of Transportation to make a decision now that both communities agree on an airline.

"D-O-T has advised us that it's going to be a 4 to 6-week decision. You know we hope it's on the 4-week side of that," said Loy.

The Cape Girardeau Airport Advisory Board gave its recommendation to city council on Monday evening, July 24.

The city council supported the board's recommendation of SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest's proposal is for two daily round trips from Cape Girardeau to Chicago O'Hare. One of those round trips will stop in Quincy, Illinois. United Express would be the operating airline.

Because one of the round trips will make a stop in Quincy, the airport there needed to agree to choose SkyWest as their airline as well.

Initially, Quincy officials did not support SkyWest Airlines and chose to go with Boutique. But, on July 27, city leaders in Quincy opted to go with SkyWest.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will have to approve the proposal in order for the deal to move forward.

If the DOT approves SkyWest, both airports will have to make changes. The airport in Cape Girardeau will have to expand its lobby and security holding area. Both airports will need additional emergency personnel on site before and after arrivals and departures.

If 10,000 passengers per year fly through the Cape Girardeau, the airport could receive a $1 million grant.

According to the advisory board's recommendation, the airport will see estimated annual revenues of more than $200,000. The cost of a ticket is still in the works, but Loy said he expected them to be priced between $87 and $95.

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