Ponca City and Enid to keep commercial air service

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- Commercial air service will continue for two more years for residents in Enid and Ponca City.<br/><br/>Senator Jim Inhofe announced Wednesday that the US Department of Transportation

Thursday, January 20th 2005, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- Commercial air service will continue for two more years for residents in Enid and Ponca City.

Senator Jim Inhofe announced Wednesday that the US Department of Transportation granted a two-year extension of the federal Essential Air Service subsidy.

Great Lakes Airlines of Cheyenne, Wyoming, will provide service to Enid's Woodring Airport and the airport in Ponca City.

The transportation department authorized 12 round trips from Enid to Dallas-Fort Worth airport weekly. The department left the door open to add a flight to Denver.

Mesa Airlines, the current carrier, had provided service from Enid to DFW but came under fire locally for reliability issues and lost passengers.

The Essential Air Service program was established in 1978 to guarantee service to smaller communities some distance from large airports.

The EAS program currently ensures commercial air service to more than 100 communities in 30 states.