MILES CITY, Mont. (AP) - Great Lakes Airlines plans to begin operating Essential Air Service flights between Miles City and Denver beginning on Oct. 26.

Great Lakes, based in Cheyenne, Wyo., plans to offer two flights between Miles City and Denver Monday through Friday and one flight on Saturday and Sunday.

The airline says the flights will make one stop in either Sheridan, Wyo., or Chadron, Neb.

Great Lakes is taking over the Montana Essential Air Service contract held by Big Sky Airlines until it shut down in early March. Great Lakes resumed EAS flights from Sidney and Lewistown to Denver on Sept. 3 and plans to add Sidney-to-Billings service later.

Essential Air Service has not been restored in Havre, Glasgow, Wolf Point and Glendive.