SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) announced that Wade Steel has been named president and chief operating officer of SkyWest Airlines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding company.

In the role, Steel will be responsible for the airline's operational and fiscal performance, overseeing more than 16,000 employees, 2,600 daily departures, and partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. He will continue to report to Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. president and CEO.

Steel joined SkyWest in 2007 and has held several senior positions, including vice president and controller of SkyWest Airlines from 2011 to 2014, executive vice president of SkyWest, Inc. starting in 2014, and chief commercial officer beginning in 2015. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University.

"Wade's work with our airline partners, commercial strategy, and fleet development has prepared him well for this role at SkyWest Airlines," Childs said.

Separately, Bryce Bailey has been named vice president of commercial contracts, where he will oversee vendor and commercial agreements, reporting to Steel. Bailey joined SkyWest in 2011 and was named managing director of planning in 2021. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Brigham Young University.

SkyWest Airlines operates a fleet of 500 aircraft serving more than 260 destinations across North America.