SkyWest restarts Moab service under Essential Air Service contract

SkyWest Airlines resumed service at Canyonlands Regional Airport in Grand County, Utah, last week, the carrier said, restoring flights to Salt Lake City and preparing to add Denver.

Daily seasonal flights to Salt Lake City began Oct. 1 under the Delta Connection brand on behalf of Delta. They run through Thanksgiving, then pause and return in March 2027, officials said. A second route, to Denver, starts Wednesday and will operate year-round, with one or two daily roundtrips as United Express.

The airport serves Moab, the largest city and county seat of Grand County.

SkyWest takes over Essential Air Service at Moab from Contour Airlines, which flew to Denver and Phoenix until last month. SkyWest served the airport before Contour held the contract, flying to Salt Lake City. The new contract runs through September 2030.

Cody Thomas, SkyWest's managing director of market development, said in a news release that direct access to Denver and Salt Lake City, plus connections onto United's and Delta's global networks, makes travel easier for local residents and opens the region to new visitors.

The United Express flights will use 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. The Delta Connection flights will also use 50-seat aircraft, according to the source.