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(AP) – North Dakota’s congressional delegation says the Federal Transportation Department has chosen Great Lakes Aviation to provide long-term service to Jamestown under the Essential Air Service subsidy program.

Great Lakes will replace Delta Airlines, which decided last year to halt service to Jamestown and Devils Lake, along with other smaller cities. Delta is required to continue providing air service to Jamestown until Great Lakes takes over.

Sens. Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Rep. Rick Berg say Great Lakes will offer 18 direct round-trip flights per week between Jamestown and Minneapolis. Service with 19-seat Beech 1900 planes is expected to start on March 12. A direct flight to Minneapolis will take about 75 minutes says Jamestown Regional Airport manager Matthew Leitner.

Leitner says Delta is currently providing two round-trip flights per day to Minneapolis. Once Great Lakes takes over, the Jamestown direct flight will connect to Delta Airlines in Minneapolis.

Great Lakes also has begun service between Devils Lake and Minneapolis.