A Contour Airlines jet is seen on the runway at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on Oct. 1. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The airline providing federally subsidized service at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport plans to continue flights during the government shutdown, even though funding could run out after Sunday.

Officials with Contour Airlines released a statement Monday evening announcing their intention to keep scheduled flights going. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Transportation notified local airport officials that, if the shutdown continued through Sunday, carriers operating under Essential Air Service would be relieved of their obligations and reimbursement under Alternate Essential Air Service grants would be suspended.

Companies can be reimbursed for flights provided if and when funding for the programs is appropriated.

Contour has operated under Alternate Essential Air Service at the local airport since 2018 but is now a contracted air charter service after Air Wisconsin pulled out a few weeks before it was to take over commercial service. A Department of Transportation official confirmed Monday that reimbursements for contracts like Contour’s would also be suspended if the shutdown persisted.

In their statement, company officials said Contour “recognizes the vital nature of the air service we have been entrusted to provide to rural America.

A passenger walks away from the terminal at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on Oct. 1. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“Accordingly, Contour will continue to operate its full flight schedule during the federal government shutdown,” the statement said.

Contour’s service is supported by the Essential Air Service program in multiple communities.

“Continued federal funding for EAS is necessary to sustain this service over the long term,” the statement said. “We remain hopeful that leaders will reach a resolution soon to ensure that critical programs like EAS continue without interruption.”

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville said if the government shutdown lasts until the 13th, the federal funding specifically for Essential Air Service will no longer be available. However, Auville said it will be up to airlines to decide if they will continue flying, as Contour has opted to do.

The question becomes how long will they be able to afford to keep providing that service without reimbursement, he said. Auville is checking with company officials to get an idea of how long they will be able to maintain flights without federal support.

Going into the holiday travel season, Auville said flights could fill up and operate as they normally would through normal business practices without any immediate funding concerns.

The U.S. Senate remained at an impasse Tuesday, with Republicans advocating a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21 and Democrats demanding action to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

“We should all urge the Democrats to join the Republicans and vote to open up the government as soon as possible,” Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., said in a statement Tuesday.

Contour is one of two companies bidding on providing subsidized service at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport after Air Wisconsin backed out. The other is SkyWest.

“If other providers shut down but Contour keeps flying that is a huge statement for Contour to our board and other communities where they are trying to compete,” he said.

“If we take everything at face value it looks like they will continue to fly beyond Oct. 13,” Auville said. “How long they will do that for the amount of risk, I don’t know. It looks like they are willing to perform beyond.”

A message seeking comment from a DOT official on how the shutdown might affect the timeline of a new carrier being chosen was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.