Great Lakes Airlines was a regional airline based in the United States that specialized in providing Essential Air Service (EAS) to small and rural communities, particularly in the western and midwestern United States. The carrier operated under federal EAS contracts, which subsidized air service to communities that would otherwise lack commercial aviation links. Founded in 1977, Great Lakes Airlines grew to become one of the more prominent EAS carriers in the country, serving dozens of small markets across states such as Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Nevada. The airline operated as an independent regional carrier rather than as a code-share partner of a major airline for much of its later years. Great Lakes Airlines ceased operations in April 2018 after losing several Essential Air Service contracts and facing ongoing financial difficulties. Its closure left numerous small communities temporarily without air service and highlighted ongoing challenges in sustaining rural air connectivity in the United States.