Government seeks new carrier for 3 Illinois airports

UNDATED -- The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking for a new air carrier to replace Great Lakes Airlines in Decatur, Marion and Quincy.

Sen. Dick Durbin says the department will require that Wyoming-based Great Lakes continue to fly to those cities in the meantime.

The department agreed to look for a new carrier after Durbin and U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello complained that Great Lakes a codeshare agreement allowing passengers to book travel jointly with American Airlines. They said that cut passenger traffic, potentially decreasing federal funding for the airports.

The federal government is paying the airline $3.5 million over two years to fly to the airports.

Great Lakes started flying to the three cities in 2007.