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Lancaster Airport to Offer United Express Flights to Chicago
New Essential Air Service contract with SkyWest Airlines will provide 12 weekly flights starting this spring.
Jan. 31, 2026 at 3:55am
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Lancaster Airport is set to begin offering direct flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) as early as this spring. The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) to the airport, replacing the current contractor Southern Airways Express.
Why it matters
The new service to the major hub of Chicago O'Hare will significantly improve connectivity for Lancaster passengers, providing them access to United Airlines' extensive national and global route network. This is an important development for the Essential Air Service program, which aims to ensure smaller communities maintain access to scheduled commercial flights.
The details
Under the new contract, SkyWest will operate 12 round-trip flights per week between Lancaster and Chicago using 50-seat CRJ200 regional jets. The contract, which runs from March 1 through the end of 2029, will provide between $5.1 million and $5.6 million in annual federal subsidies. This equates to $4,274 per flight and $184 per passenger. The final flight schedule and pricing are still being determined, but SkyWest plans to offer service seven days a week.
- The new SkyWest service is expected to begin within one to two months following the transition from Southern Airways Express.
- Southern Airways Express' current contract was recently extended through March 31, or until SkyWest is fully operational.
The players
SkyWest Airlines
An American regional airline that will operate the new United Express flights from Lancaster Airport.
Southern Airways Express
The current Essential Air Service contractor for Lancaster Airport, providing flights to Washington Dulles and Pittsburgh.
U.S. Department of Transportation
The federal agency that selected SkyWest to provide the new Essential Air Service to Lancaster Airport.
What’s next
It remains unclear whether Southern Airways Express will continue to offer flights from Lancaster once SkyWest takes over the Essential Air Service contract.
The takeaway
The selection of SkyWest and its partnership with United Airlines highlights the importance of hub access for smaller airports participating in the Essential Air Service program. Connecting passengers to larger networks through major hubs is often prioritized over direct service to smaller, regional destinations.
