Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MERIDIAN, MS.—Meridian’s airline partner, SkyWest, has reached an agreement to partner with United Airlines to provide Meridian’s air service as of July 1, 2020, with two daily, round-trip flights to Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Tickets are now on sale at United’s website at www.united.com.

The change to a new carrier began in early March, when American Airlines, Meridian’s current SkyWest partner, announced it was discontinuing service to Meridian and about a dozen other communities in the U.S. because it had reached a threshold in its pilot contract that limited the number of smaller aircraft that could be used in its fleet. SkyWest immediately went to work and secured a new contract with United.

“The City of Meridian is grateful to SkyWest for believing in Meridian and for its willingness to partner with United Airlines to provide this service. United brings a global airline to Meridian, with a strong network,” said Mayor Percy Bland.

Meridian Airport Authority President Tom Williams added that “We are so happy that our outstanding airline staff will continue to work as ground crew and provide the high quality of service the passengers of Meridian Regional Airport enjoy.”

United has not yet released its flight schedule for the twice daily flights. The Houston airport has a better on-time performance than Dallas, the current hub, and the plane will be housed in Meridian overnight, a real plus.

“We know change is never easy,” Williams continued, “but, as a smaller airport, we are proud to continue to offer excellent service from a major carrier at a time when many smaller communities are losing air service entirely.”