WILLIAMSTOWN — Steps were taken Wednesday to facilitate Contour Airlines continuing to serve the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport until a new carrier, presumably SkyWest, can take over.

Meanwhile, SkyWest released a statement about serving the local airport, although specifics are still to be determined.

“SkyWest Airlines welcomes the opportunity to bring enhanced air service to Parkersburg and connect the area to major hubs through our airline partners, improving air travel for everyone,” the statement said. “This new connectivity would also stimulate local economic growth and create new opportunities for business and tourism.”

The service is not expected to be rebid after Air Wisconsin submitted its letter of withdrawal Monday. SkyWest was among five bidders for the contract, offering two options.

One was for 12 weekly round-trip flights to Washington Dulles International Airport in the nation’s capital and/or Chicago O’Hare International Airport, under a codeshare agreement with United Airlines at an initial annual subsidy of $5,960,499. The other, which was recommended by the authority, was for 12 round-trip flights to O’Hare and/or Charlotte aboard 50- to 76-seat aircraft under an American Airlines codeshare for $6,914,774.

A SkyWest representative said additional details on the new service were not available Wednesday. Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville said Tuesday it seemed likely that the lower-cost option would be selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Tennessee-based Contour has served the airport under federally subsidized Alternate Essential Air Service since December 2018. The contract ends Sept. 30, and the DOT selected Air Wisconsin as the new carrier in August.

Air Wisconsin had the lowest bid, with a $5.2 million subsidy for the first of two years, to provide 12 roundtrip flights a week aboard 50-seat regional jets to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. That’s where Contour flies its 30-passenger jets, with a stop in Beckley each way.

Members of the Wood County Airport Authority objected to the selection, citing concerns over the company’s past performance elsewhere and questions about its financial solvency.

Still, work was proceeding to get the new service up and running by Oct. 1 until last week, when reports emerged of Air Wisconsin being sold by its parent company and more than 240 workers being laid off.

On Monday, the company filed a withdrawal notice with the DOT, saying “our airline has decided to change its strategic direction.”

Auville filed a request to extend the Contour service Tuesday, then amended it, at the direction of DOT officials, Wednesday to request a waiver of the airport’s right to Essential Air Service. This is being done because Contour does not meet the qualifications of a standard EAS carrier, he said.

“The waiver allows for the DOT to hire Contour as an air charter provider outside of both AEAS and EAS,” Auville said. “This is a faster process, and the resulting contract can be tailored to meet the needs involved.”

He acknowledged this is “not the normal process” but said the DOT, Contour and airport officials are working together “to figure out how to get things done.”

“The situation here is unfortunate, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to remedy it,” Auville said.