Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville and Assistant Manager Sydnie Beall appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to discuss their concerns with the recent essential air service contract that was awarded to Air Wisconsin Airlines. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — Officials are looking for options in trying to get federal officials to look at picking another airline to provide essential air service to the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport after it was determined the airline picked was having a number of financial problems.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the Essential Air Service contract for the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport to Air Wisconsin Airlines. In an order dated Aug., 1, 2025, the Department of Transportation awarded Air Wisconsin the bid to provide flights using 50-seat CRJ-200LR aircraft, for the two-year term from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2027.

However, officials at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport have concerns as the information they have been hearing is that the company may be having financial issues which could impact the service that could be provided locally.

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville and Assistant Manager Sydnie Beall appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to update the commission and discuss the concerns they have.

The flights from the company would be operated under a codeshare where the flights would be done through cooperation with another airline, in this case American Airlines, which Auville said they were fine with.

The airport’s concern is a separation was announced earlier this year between Air Wisconsin Airlines and American Airlines which would happen after they would be under a contract with the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.

“They would start out and end within a year and we would have around two years without having that same service level,” Auville said.

They are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to look at these issues and disqualify the original bid and move on to the next one.

“The service being advertised isn’t even there,” he said. “We didn’t even think it was a viable bid upfront because of all of the stuff in the news about (the airline’s) financial issues.

“They had a lot of issues and performance issues where they weren’t performing adequately.”

Airport officials contacted officials at an airport in Waterloo, Iowa, where Air Wisconsin had a federal Essential Air Contract.

“Their contract utterly failed,” Auville said. “Right now, (Air Wisconsin) is making claims that are beyond what their performance is.

“Our concern is we don’t want to go down the road and have them fail here and have to find someone new.”

Under their proposal, Air Wisconsin said they would be able to continue flights to Charlotte with 12 flights a week, Auville said adding the proposed route would cut out a current stop in Beckley, W.Va.

“Air Wisconsin will provide 12 weekly round trips to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) at an annual subsidy rate of $5,200,752 for the first year and $5,564,804 for the second year,” the awarding documents stated.

Auville felt the airport wanted to make a clean transition so service to the public is not interrupted too much and preserve what the airport has been doing.

“We want the service at the airport to serve the community,” he said. “We don’t want disruptions.”

Tennessee-based Contour Airlines has been providing flights to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport aboard 30-seat planes since December 2018. Their contract for 12 flights a week is up Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year.

Auville said Contour was an improvement over previous essential air service providers.

If any airline would come in and fail, flights would have to be canceled while airport officials worked to get a new airline which would take time with no guarantee they would be able to find another provider as the process would have to go through a bidding process.

“With anything, it is habit,” Auville said. “If people start going to other places and they get out of the habit of flying with us it sets us back.”

Auville said his attempts to contact officials with Air Wisconsin have failed. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel left a message Monday with Air Wisconsin Airlines at their corporate contact number that was not returned by press time.

When there are a number of inconsistencies, like the ones they are seeing, that would cause the bids to be kicked out, Auville said, adding he is doing his due diligence, asking questions and addressing concerns.

“We want the best candidate to serve the community,” he said, adding if ultimately the Department of Transportation determines that is Air Wisconsin Airlines is the winner, he will do everything he can to make sure they can be as successful as possible here.

“We really want what’s best for the community,” he added. “I am going to make sure they have everything here they need to succeed.”

In May, the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority discussed pitches made by Air Wisconsin Airlines, Breeze Airways, Contour Airlines, Denver Air Connection and SkyWest to provide air service to the airport and allowed the public to comment on it. Airport officials said they received over 600 contacts from people in the region on what they want to see from the airlines.

Commissioner Robert Tebay, who serves on the airport board, said many people have been happy with Contour and asked if something could be worked out so they could continue.

Contour’s new bid was deemed “ineligible” with Beale saying it was because Contour operates as a charter service which would have required a waiver. Breeze was also deemed “ineligible” because they only offered seven flights as opposed to 12, she said.

Auville said they are going through the “proper channels” with the Department of Transportation to address their concerns. They are also in contact with the office of U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., to express their concerns about the codeshare, as presented in the bid, was not really there and more.

With two months left on Contour’s service, airport officials are trying to make sure the airport will have reliable service when the changeover occurs.

“You are in the trust business,” Commission President Blair Couch said. “People trust when they make a reservation that they will fly to the destination they have selected.

“It is a trust that (the airline) will get me there and get me there safely.”

Airport officials are urging the community to continue to comment on the situation as public input is looked at and considered.

To view the full airline proposals and submit comments to the Department of Transportation:

1. Visit www.regulations.gov

2. Enter docket number DOT-OST-2005- 20734

3. Review the proposals

4. Submit your comments to the DOT

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.