Great Bend will be without air service at the end of March, after Great Lakes Airlines notified the city this week that it plans to end service a month early.

Airport Manager Martin Miller announced the news Thursday. The Cheyenne, Wyo.-based airline had been scheduled to end its service at the end of April. Great Lakes will continue its flights from Hays to Denver.

The city is anticipating that SeaPort Airlines of Portland, Ore., will receive a contract to serve Great Bend under the federal Essential Air Service program, though that choice is not yet official.

SeaPort is expected to provide twice-daily service to Wichita and once-daily service to Kansas City through Salina. The service might not be available by the first of May.

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Associated Press information from: Great Bend Tribune