Delta announced today they have signed a memo of understanding for Montana-based Big Sky Airlines to operate Delta Connection service beginning next year. Big Sky, a subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, which also owns Northwest Airlink carrier Mesaba, will begin by operating eight 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D turboprops on short-haul routes. The routes will be announced sometime this winter.
Delta offers 90 daily departures to 31 nonstop destinations and aims to continue expansion. Big Sky Airlines operates currently to 20 cities in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, and Illinois, operating code shares with Alaska, Northwest, and US Airways.