Regional carrier Big Sky sets March 8 end to western operations

Big Sky Airlines, a regional carrier that terminated its east coast operations in early January, now says it will do the same with its service in the western states effective March 8. Based in Billings, Mont., Big Sky serves 15 cities in the western U.S., mostly in Montana; it operates code-share services with Northwest, Alaska, Horizon and US Airways. (The eastern routes it suspended in January were mostly Delta Connection services out of Boston.) Big Sky’s web site is already shut down. The airline’s parent, MAIR Holdings Inc., said it is “currently seeking to transition its remaining western operations to another carrier.” MAIR Holdings – which used to own bankrupt Mesaba Airlines until it was transferred to partner Northwest – said that Big Sky had operating losses of $3.6 million in the quarter ending December 31.