SkyWest to Discontinue St. George – Los Angeles Service

SkyWest Airlines, a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc (NASDAQ: SKYW) today announced that it plans to discontinue scheduled United Express flights between St. George, Utah and Los Angeles, Calif., effective September 1, 2009, citing its strategy to reduce select flights that cannot be profitable in light of weakened demand and an unsettled fuel environment. 

“Although SkyWest would prefer to continue offering customers the convenience of scheduled air service between St. George and Los Angeles, we are proactively responding to soft demand and a weak economic environment to optimize our financial performance,” said Mike Thompson, SkyWest’s vice president – market development.

He continued, “We remain committed to providing exceptional air service in St. George, and will ensure we respond effectively to meet passenger demand.”

SkyWest will offer customers booked on Los Angeles flights after September 1 alternative transportation choices or refunds. SkyWest will proactively contact customers who have provided full contact information in their reservations to arrange alternate transportation or refunds. 

SkyWest continues to fight a weakened economy as well as volatile fuel prices through capacity reductions and a review of all markets for efficiency. As a result, the airline has trimmed domestic schedules in select markets at off-peak times.

SkyWest has served St. George since the airline’s inception in 1972, and has offered ongoing Los Angeles service since October 1998. SkyWest’s 14 St. George employees will continue operating SkyWest’s St. George – Salt Lake service. The airline currently operates seven daily round-trip Delta Connection flights using a 30-seat Embraer Brasilia between St. George and Salt Lake City.