Great Lakes Aviation has been selected by the federal Department of Transportation as McCook's new airline, at a subsidy of $1.58 million.

The two-year essential air service contract will begin with Great Lakes when airline service commences between McCook Regional Airport and Denver.

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The DOT also chose Great Lakes as the essential air carrier for Jonesboro, Ark. Great Lakes already has 12 essential air service contracts with the DOT.

McCook's previous airline, Air MidWest/Mesa, notified the DOT in January that it was terminating service to McCook and Grand Island in April, citing significant losses and little prospect of future profits.

Great Lakes first submitted a bid for McCook for service to Kansas City. The McCook City Council, upon recommendation by the McCook Airport Advisory Board, requested service to Denver rather than to Omaha as Air MidWest provided.

Great Lakes agreed and submitted another bid to the DOT with Denver as its destination for McCook.

Essential air service is a federally-subsidized program that ensures rural communities have access to flight service.