Great Lakes Aviation will provide service for Clovis, N.M., and Silver City, N.M., under the federally subsidized essential air service program.
The U.S. Department of Transportation selected Wyoming-based Great Lakes for a two-year subsidy, Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., announced Tuesday. The department issued a request for proposals last November
Great Lakes will fly 18 one-stop roundtrips each week to Denver for Clovis, while Silver City will receive 12 nonstop weekly roundtrips to Phoenix. The service will start May 1.
“Although these communities in New Mexico are small, maintaining a transportation connection with larger airports is important,” Domenici said. “The essential air service program makes this happen by fielding air service proposals to ensure such communities receive the best possible service.”
The airline will receive a subsidy of $1,992,731 from the Department of Transportation to serve Clovis and Silver City with 19-passenger Beech 1900 aircraft.
The proposal also will allow Clovis to negotiate for flights to Albuquerque as part of its award for service to Denver, Domenici’s office said.
Great Lakes has been providing service between Clovis and Albuquerque, and the Clovis City Commission last month backed Great Lakes in its bid to continue flying to Clovis.
