The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a new Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to Contour Airlines. This decision retains the airline at FLY CGI and significantly expands travel options for the Southeast Missouri region by continuing service to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and introducing service to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)—along with planned future seasonal flights to Pensacola (PNS).
Under the new contract, Contour Airlines will continue to provide reliable service on its 30-seat CRJ-200 and Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets. While the initial award from DOT is for the Chicago and Charlotte service pattern, the City of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and Contour officials have notified DOT of the preference to continue with 12 round trips per week to Chicago through November 30th and then substitute Dallas for Charlotte beginning in December 2025.
From this, the updated service schedule will feature 12 weekly round-trip flights to Chicago (ORD). Beginning in December, the schedule will shift to seven weekly round trips to Chicago (ORD) and five weekly round trips to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), connecting travelers to two of the nation's largest airline hubs. This makes FLY CGI the only airport in the area to offer westbound hub service and the only regional EAS airport providing connectivity to two major hubs.
Furthermore, Contour Airlines plans to introduce seasonal, non-subsidized flights from Cape Girardeau to Pensacola, Florida (PNS), beginning April 1, 2026. This addition, operated at Contour’s own risk, positions FLY CGI as one of only a handful of EAS airports nationwide offering service to three or more destinations.
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Contour Airlines and expand our destination offerings for the community," said JoJo Stuart, Airport Manager. "While we understand some may be disappointed that the Department of Transportation did not select American Airlines, this new agreement with Contour offers tremendous advantages. It enhances our connectivity, supports regional economic growth, and provides the broadest array of destinations in the region. Our passenger numbers have grown 25% with Contour, and with these additional hub offerings, we anticipate even stronger growth."
The DOT's selection of Contour’s proposal was based on a significant cost difference, with Contour’s bid being over $3.4 million less than the alternative for the two-year term. This decision reflects a focus on providing cost-effective, sustainable service for the community.
"Contour is proud to continue serving the Cape Girardeau region and to expand our partnership with the introduction of flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and eventually Pensacola," said Matt Chaifetz, CEO of Contour Airlines. These routes provide seamless connectivity to the American Airlines global network through two of its largest hubs. We are committed to providing the reliable, high-quality service this community deserves and look forward to building on the success we have already achieved together."