Barkley Airport gets over 1,000 signatures on petition supporting SkyWest choice

UPDATE:
Barkley Regional Airport's petition requesting community support for their upcoming SkyWest flights received more than one thousand signatures over the past five days.

The petition window closed on Monday with 1,017 signatures. The petition will be given to the Department of Transportation to show there is strong regional support.

The DOT must approve the proposed contract under the federally subsidized Essential Air Service program.


ORIGINAL STORY:
Now that the decision has been made for SkyWest, flying as United, to return to Paducah, Barkley Regional Airport is asking for the community to get behind that selection.

The airport has launched a petition for area residents to show their support for not only SkyWest but also for the airport and its further development. 

The petition will be included with Barkley Regional Airport's recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will review the agreement and, most likely, offer its approval.  

Residents have until Monday, July 14th to sign the petition at change.org, by clicking here.

After completing the petition information, you will be directed automatically to a screen asking for a donation. However, that is not at the request of the airport. Barkley Regional Executive Director Dennis Rouleau said that the airport is not asking nor suggesting that anyone donate. He said they are just seeking the support that comes from signing it. 

The Barkley Regional Airport Authority board chose SkyWest from a field of five prospective airlines at a special meeting on Tuesday. SkyWest will take over service in Paducah with 12 weekly round-trip flights to either Houston or Chicago beginning on December 1st. The flights from Paducah to George Bush Intercontinental or O'Hare will connect travelers to nearly 300 destinations worldwide. 


Photo of SkyWest/United CRJ-550 courtesy of Barkley Regional Airport