KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A regional airline based in Alaska has been chosen to serve Kearney, North Platte and Scottsbluff.

The U.S. Department of Transportation approved PenAir’s bid for a two-year essential service contract on Wednesday.

PenAir is a family owned airline based in Anchorage that has been in operation since 1955. Outside of Alaska, the airline provides routes to and from Boston and Portland, Oregon. In Nebraska, it will provide flights to and from Denver.

Last year, it flew more than 266,000 passengers.

PenAir was the only airline that submitted bids which met all five of the department’s selection criteria.

Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse says city officials are excited to start working with PenAir. It will replace Kearney’s current provider, Great Lakes Airlines.