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SkyWest proposed seasonal United Express service between Pellston, Michigan (PLN), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) in August 2024, but the proposal is not proof that the flights launched or are currently available to book. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s October 2025 report lists SkyWest’s contracted Pellston service to Detroit (DTW), not Chicago.
What SkyWest proposed for Pellston
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation dated August 29, 2024, SkyWest proposed service from Pellston Regional Airport to both Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Chicago O’Hare. It proposed two different patterns:
| Service in SkyWest’s proposal | Season | Airline brand | Aircraft specified | Frequency stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pellston–Detroit (DTW) | Year-round | Delta Connection | CRJ200/550/700/900 | 12 weekly round trips |
| Pellston–Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | June through September | United Express | CRJ200 | Part of a proposed summer plan of 12 or more weekly round trips |
The letter also described subsidized service from October through May at 12 round trips per week, alongside unsubsidized service from June through September at 12 or more weekly round trips. These were terms SkyWest proposed, not confirmation that every route or aircraft detail was approved or operated. SkyWest’s August 29, 2024 proposal
Did the Pellston–Chicago flights start?
The available official records do not establish whether the seasonal ORD flights ever operated. Nor do they establish whether tickets are currently for sale. SkyWest’s letter documents a proposal; it should not be treated as a route-launch announcement or a current schedule.
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For a trip, check current airline schedules and booking channels for PLN–ORD availability. Do not infer that a United Express flight is operating from Pellston simply because SkyWest proposed one.
What the DOT lists as Pellston’s contracted service
The later official status is clearer for Pellston’s Essential Air Service contract. The DOT’s October 2025 report lists SkyWest service to DTW, using CRJ-200 aircraft with 50 seats and 12 round trips per week. The contract period runs from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2029. The report does not list ORD as Pellston’s contracted hub. DOT’s October 2025 EAS report
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The DOT gives Pellston’s annual subsidy rate as $4,219,848 as of October 1, 2025. That is the reported EAS subsidy rate for Pellston; it is not a cost figure for the separately proposed Chicago flights. DOT’s October 2025 EAS report
DOT Order 2024-12-7 selected SkyWest for the Pellston contract covering February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2029. The available order information does not separately establish authorization of the seasonal ORD service. DOT Order 2024-12-7
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Why the proposal and the contract are different
Essential Air Service is a federal program that uses subsidies or grants to maintain scheduled air service for communities that might otherwise lack it. Pellston’s DOT-listed contract is therefore distinct from SkyWest’s proposal for additional, unsubsidized summer service to Chicago. DOT’s Essential Air Service program description
The proposal’s mention of United Express and CRJ200 aircraft describes what SkyWest offered for the seasonal ORD service. The later DOT report’s DTW hub, CRJ-200, 50 seats and 12 weekly round trips describe the contracted Pellston service. Neither record, on its own, answers whether ORD flights actually flew or can now be booked.
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