NBC Montana: Dept. of Transportation announces flights from Butte to Denver, Salt Lake City

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced SkyWest Airlines will provide Butte with 13 weekly round trips to Denver International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport.

The department’s order is to provide essential air service to Butte.

The contract includes two 50-seat aircraft for a three-year term from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027.

The annual subsidy amount will be $6,354,635 in year one, $6,799,459 in year two and $7,275,421 in year three.

Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines celebrated the decision saying it’s great news for all of southwest Montana.

“This is great news for Butte and all of southwest Montana! Additional flights in the region will help folks stay connected and ease the burden of travel for Montanans and visitors alike. I’m glad to see Essential Air Services benefiting Montana communities and will continue to support this critical program,” Daines said in a statement.

“In a town like Butte, increasing connectivity and expanding air service out to other parts of the West is critical for the local economy,” said Tester, who urged the Transportation Administration to approve the application allowing SkyWest Airlines to provide the new flights. “I’ve been hearing from folks in Butte about the need to get this done, so I’m proud to have worked to get this application approved that’ll bring more flights to the Bert Mooney Airport and keep rural America better connected to the rest of the country.”