By Angela Hatton
Paducah, KY – A representative from SkyWest Airlines will brief the Barkley Regional Airport Board next Wednesday about bringing its service to Paducah early next year. A recent community survey favored SkyWest jet service to Chicago over the current carrier, Mesaba Airlines, which operates planes to Memphis, Tennessee. Barkley spokesperson Jackie Jones says the Department of Transportation is expected to grant a federal subsidy to SkyWest by the end of October. It will allow the United Airlines-owned carrier to operate at Barkley. SkyWest is seeking over a half-million dollars in annual subsidies, compared to over a million sought by Mesaba. SkyWest also offers larger jets, with 16 more seats per plane.