SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Scottsbluff airport board may have to find another airline to provide subsidized flights to Denver.

The U.S. Transportation Department said in an order late last week that Beachwood, Ohio-based Aerodynamics Inc. has failed to show it is fit to operate as an air carrier under the direction and control of Scott Beale, its majority shareholder and CEO. The Western Nebraska Regional Airport board selected Aerodynamics in October to recommend to the Transportation Department for Essential Air Service flights.

In its rejection of Aerodynamics, the department noted that Beale had lost a civil fraud lawsuit and owed the winner $600,000.

Scottsbluff airport director Darwin Skelton says the airport was given time to explore options, and he says the company could conceivably solve the problem by replacing Beale as CEO.