Airline suspending service this weekend
Icy roads and blowing snow have put a hamper on travel plans throughout the U.P. for what seems like a month now, but no matter how much it clears up, there won’t be any flights out of the Gogebic-Iron County Airport for the foreseeable future.
Great Lakes Airlines announced today that they’re suspending service in a number of locations, including Ironwood, effective this Saturday. The decision comes on the heels of a new Congressional mandate requiring pilots with smaller airlines to have 1,500 hours of experience instead of the current requirement of 500.
Great Lakes Aviation CEO Charles Howell said the company feels it’s in the best interest of their customers, communities and employees to suspend service in Ironwood and other locations until its staff of pilots can be rebuilt. The Wyoming-based company says all customers with future flights in any airport affected by the suspension will be given refunds.
Great Lakes Airlines is currently the only air service provider at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport.