Williston leaders express concern with SkyWest after approving another year of subsidizing

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) - The City of Williston has been paying SkyWest to provide daily flights between XWA and Minneapolis since they returned in 2021. While commissioners approved another funding agreement for 2025, they say their support is running dry.

These contracts, known as minimum revenue guarantee agreements, ensure SkyWest doesn’t face financial risk providing these flights. While flight numbers at XWA continue to grow, the city and other partnering entities are set to pay more than $2.7 million for the service in 2024. A city memo says they project to pay more than $1.3 million in 2025.

City Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk said subsidizing is not sustainable.

“We need to exhaust potential other avenues for the dialogue with carriers and with our members of Congress and identify that we have a strong need, but at what cost? We can only carry so much of the burden,” said Cymbaluk.

Starting next year, SkyWest will be using different planes, which will reduce the seating capacity from 65 to 50 seats. Airport Director Anthony Dudas said pilot union contractual limitations restrict regional airlines from operating aircraft with more than 50 seats.