MANISTEE, MI -- Blacker Airport in Manistee County will start air service from Manistee to Chicago Midway.

After losing their Milwaukee service about a year ago, Airport Manager Barry Lind was in the tough position of finding a way to continue air service out of Blacker Airport.

Lind came through, helping Blacker Airport to become the first airport in the country to apply for and be approved for Alternate Essential Air Service.

AEAS is a program that allows for exploration of options for air service. Lind says that approval process took about five months.

This allows for air service to resume starting today from Blacker Airport to Chicago Midway. Initially, the route will be served by a 50-person regional jet. Because Chicago Midway is a hub for Southwest Airlines, this will allow passengers to find other connecting flights.

The first flight will take off from Blacker Airport this afternoon at 4 pm.