Daily Mining Gazette file photo Passengers deplane at Houghton County Memorial Airport from the Chicago afternoon flight in this undated file photo. With TSA workers without pay for weeks, many local residents have been generously donation food and gift cards to help out.

HOUGHTON — SkyWest Airlines, which operates for United Airlines, has been providing service to Houghton County Memorial Airport for 10 years.

To celebrate, SkyWest is having a celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Houghton County Memorial Airport.

Festivities will include refreshments and a round-trip ticket for two passengers from Houghton County Memorial Airport to Chicago.

SkyWest came up with the idea of the anniversary party, said airport manager Dennis Hext.

“They wanted to do something for the community to celebrate this,” he said. “They wanted to have hot dogs and cake and give away two free tickets and other things to show their appreciation to the community.”

SkyWest operates through the federal Essential Air Service program, which subsidizes airlines operating in rural locations which would otherwise be unprofitable for them. The most recent three-year contract began this year. As with previous contracts, it includes two flights a day to Chicago, seven days a week.

“We’re very fortunate to have a carrier like them, because they’re the best carrier in the United States when it comes to regional carriers,” Hext said. “We’re lucky to have them.”