PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- SkyWest will stop providing commercial air service to the Pierre Regional airport early next year.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Transportation said it had rejected requests from SkyWest, Gov. Kristi Noem and the cities of Pierre and Watertown to rebid the federal essential air service contracts for the two communities.

At tonight’s Pierre City Commission meeting, commissioner Jamie Huizenga (high-zinga) said the last SkyWest flight will be January 3, 2022.

Huizenga says in December, SkyWest will cut back from two daily flights to Denver to one daily flight.

Despite early concerns brought about by very unreliable service from past regional commercial air carriers, Huizenga says Denver Air Connection has proven itself to be dependable.

Denver Air Connection’s Essential Air Service contract for the Pierre Regional Airport goes through May 2023.

Skywest will also no longer being flying in & out of Watertown beginning in January of 2022.