DOT goes against recommendation, chooses Southern for Harrison

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     The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has chosen an airline to provide essential air services (EAS) for the Boone County Airport, and it was against the recommendation of the airport’s board. Airport manager Judy McCutcheon was informed late Friday afternoon the DOT selected Memphis-based Southern Airways to bring its business to Harrison.

     According to the Harrison Daily Times, the decision comes nearly a month and a half after the board voted to recommend the contract be awarded to Contour Airlines. Contour would have provided the same flights to Memphis and Dallas-Fort Worth as Southern Airways but in a faster airplane. However, McCutcheon says the DOT subsidy required from Southern was significantly lower than Contour. According McCutcheon, Southern was also awarded EAS contracts to Hot Springs and El Dorado against the recommendations of their airport boards.

     Southern Airways will replace SeaPort Airlines who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September.




   

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