Mesaba Selected to Continue Air Service to TRF

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Mesaba Aviation has been tentatively selected to continue providing essential air service to Thief River Falls, according to U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson. The U.S. Department of Transportation this week issued an order for two nonstop round trips on weekdays and two round trips each weekend to Minneapolis.

The plan reduces number of subsidized flights each week from 13 to 12. However, there will not be a ten percent reduction in the subsidy that the city will be responsible for, as initially feared.

“While I’m pleased to see that Thief River Falls will continue to have air service, I’m disappointed that there won’t be as many flights as the city requested,” Peterson said. “City officials have worked hard to have continuity in air service, but with the current administration’s budget cutting, there’s just less to work with.”

The order is tentative because Mesaba’s proposal to the DOT was for 13 subsidized round trips each week and they will only be subsidized for 12. The carrier has 10 days to accept the department’s offer.

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