Passengers disembark from a Contour Airlines jet in October at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. (File photo)

PARKERSBURG – Contour Airlines has been chosen to provide federally subsidized flights to and from the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport for the next four years.

In an order dated May 15, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the selection, more than eight months after Air Wisconsin, which was chosen for a two-year contract in August 2025, said it was withdrawing.

Contour, which began serving the airport under the Alternate Essential Air Service program in 2018, has continued to provide flights since, including through last fall’s federal government shutdown.

“Though the selection process took longer than we had expected, we are pleased with the selection,” said Andrew Daniel, a member of the Wood County Airport Authority. “A direct, non-stop flight to Charlotte Douglas International is what the community has asked for and Contour has been selected to do just that.”

After the Department of Transportation sought new bids following Air Wisconsin’s departure, Contour submitted another bid along with two from SkyWest.

Contour’s bid was to continue 12 weekly flights to Charlotte aboard 30-seat regional jets, with the possibility of having additional flights to Chicago or Washington, D.C. The subsidy in the first year was for $5,784,370, increasing to $6,696,131 by the fourth year.

The flights will no longer include a stop in Beckley after officials at Raleigh County Memorial Airport sought separate service. Contour’s bid also included the possibility of unsubsidized, seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

SkyWest offered two options: 12 weekly flights to Washington or Chicago on 50-seat aircraft at a starting subsidy of $5,469,217, rising to $5,976,362 by year four, or 12 weekly flights to Charlotte on 65- or 76-seat aircraft, with a subsidy going from $6,138,942 to $6,708,188.

The airport authority ranked the SkyWest bid for Charlotte service highest, followed by Contour’s.

In its order announcing the selection of Contour, the DOT said it “received multiple comments from community members expressing strong support for maintaining Contour as the EAS provider for Parkersburg, with many letters expressing the view that Contour is a reliable, responsive air carrier that understands and meets the unique needs of Parkersburg and (the) Mid-Ohio Valley region.

“Many users of the service stated that they value the airline’s reliability, minimal cancellations, and ease of working with local stakeholders,” it said.

In explaining the selection, the order notes the airport authority stated support for Contour as a second option, provided the service was offered under the traditional Essential Air Service model, rather than Alternate EAS.

Daniel said the authority is excited to work with Contour on the potential summer service to Myrtle Beach.

Airport Manager Ben Auville could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.