By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Great Lakes Airlines canceled many flights this holiday season, and the Hays City Commission, along with many customers are not happy.

At Thursday evening’s city commission meeting, commissioners said they received many phone calls and emails from unsatisfied customers upset about canceled flights — with some finding out at the last minute they would be taking a bus to fly out of Denver.

Great Lakes posted a 60 percent on-time performance in November, with that figure falling to 40 percent in December.

Commissioner Ron Mellick said the city does not have the power to fire Great Lakes but assured the city is looking for different airlines to serve Hays.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty has already communicated with the U.S. Department of Transportation the city’s desire to award SkyWest Airlines with the bid for service through Hays Regional Airport.

A new carrier contract will begin in May, and the U.S. DOT could finalize an agreement with a new carrier as early as next month.