PADUCAH — SkyWest Airlines will begin flying from Paducah’s Barkley Regional Airport to Chicago beginning Feb. 1, 2026, the airport announced Wednesday. Airport leaders will continue work to finalize service to Houston within the approved subsidy.
The announcement follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s selection of SkyWest, with service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport only, to fulfill the Essential Air Services contract for commercial air service at Barkley. The contract aims to provide travelers with the benefits of connectivity to domestic and international destinations.
According to Barkley Regional Airport, under the four-year contract, SkyWest would operate CRJ-200 aircraft to the airport in Illinois.
A Wednesday statement from airport executive director Dennis Rouleau expressed confidence that leaders could work toward providing service to both Chicago O’Hare International Airport and to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.
The Chicago and Houston airports were included in one of SkyWest’s original proposals to Barkley, and gathered strong support from area residents, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, and elected officials including Paducah Mayor George Bray. The DOT excluded Houston in its recent approval order, citing cost effectiveness.
“Our proposal included both Chicago and Houston, and we have been assured by SkyWest that they will service both markets utilizing a CRJ-550 within the approved subsidy,” Rouleau said. “We are working diligently to finalize these arrangements. We appreciate the DOT’s decision and our partners’ support, and we will continue to work to confirm both Chicago and Houston air service. We remain confident that the DOT will allow this change.”
The contract with the airport’s current airline, Contour Airlines, ends Nov. 30. Barkley’s contract with SkyWest is set to begin Dec. 1 and will run through Nov. 30, 2029.