Airline closing Lincoln maintenance facility, 100 to lose jobs

A regional airline that opened an aircraft maintenance base in Lincoln less than two years ago and within months doubled its size is now shutting down and laying off all its employees.

CommuteAir, which flies regional jets for United Airlines on routes to smaller airports, said in a Monday letter to the Nebraska Department of Labor that it will be closing the operation by July 18, “due to operational challenges and business needs.”

Approximately 100 people will lose their jobs.

CommuteAir WARN Letter

CommuteAir opened the base in the summer of 2023 in an old airplane hangar at the Lincoln Airport after it started flying routes to Denver for United. In April 2024, the company announced plans to expand and more than double its workforce, which at the time was less than 50 people.

Jason Kadah, managing director of communications for CommuteAir, said the company had made “the difficult decision to close our maintenance base in Lincoln, Nebraska.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Lincoln community and the Lincoln Airport for their long-standing support and partnership,” Kadah said in an emailed statement. “This decision was not made lightly, and we deeply appreciate everything the Lincoln team and community have contributed to CommuteAir.”

Lincoln Airport Executive Director David Haring said airport officials were not a part of the decision and did not know it was coming.

“It was kind of a surprise to us, to be quite frank,” Haring said.

He said CommuteAir had decided to expand its Lincoln operations last year even after it stopped flying routes to Denver, which came as a bit of a surprise.

“I thought there was a chance they would close at that time,” Haring said.

While the closing of the facility will be a blow both to the airport and to Lincoln, Haring said he believes the airport will not be that heavily affected.

Since CommuteAir does not fly for United in Lincoln, he said he doesn’t believe local airline service will be impacted.

That’s a good thing for the airport, which has struggled to maintain its commercial air service since the COVID-19 pandemic, even after spending more than $50 million to remodel and expand its terminal. United is the only airline currently serving the airport, and it appears to be doing well, with passenger traffic up 9% this year through April.

Additionally, SkyWest, another regional airline that flies for United to both Denver and Chicago, is in the process of opening its own maintenance hub in Lincoln.

Haring said the company currently is in the hiring process for what is expected to be an initial staff of about 25-35 employees.