Essential Air Service (EAS) is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which had been served by certificated airlines prior to deregulation in 1978, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these communities that otherwise would not be profitable.[1] The program is codified at 49 U.S.C. §§ 41731–41748.
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) subsidizes airlines to serve communities across the country that otherwise would not receive scheduled air service.[1] As of June 1, 2015, 159 communities in the US received EAS subsidies, of which 44 were in Alaska, two in Hawaii, and one in Puerto Rico.[2] The decision as to what degree of subsidized service a community requires is made based on identifying a specific hub for the community and from there determining the number of trips, seats, and type of aircraft that are necessary to serve that hub.[1]
These increases occurred despite numerous Congressional measures to contain program spending.[2] The George W. Bush Administration sought to reduce the cost of the program to $50 million by stricter eligibility criteria and requiring the local governments of the areas served to contribute to the cost. The Heritage Foundation argued in 2014 that rural airports should receive no federal subsidies through the Essential Air Service program; rather, state and local governments that value the air services should support them.[3] The Congressional Research Service has reported in 2018 that since the early 2000s federal subsidies for the EAS have nearly tripled to almost $300 million per year.[2] By May 2023, the subsidies amounted to $394.2 million per year.[4]
Community eligibility criteria
Pursuant to the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2000, no community within the 48 contiguous states may receive a subsidy greater than $200 per passenger unless the community is more than 210 miles (340 km) from the nearest large or medium hub airport. Pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, to be eligible for the program, a community in the contiguous 48 states must either maintain an average of 10 or more enplanements per service day or be located more than 175 miles (282 km) from the nearest large or medium hub airport. The criteria for 10 or more enplanements can be waived by the Secretary of Transportation, on an annual basis, if a community can demonstrate that it is due to a temporary decline.[5]
The Department of Transportation, pursuant to the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2015, is required to negotiate a local cost share with communities located less than 40 miles (64 km) from a small hub airport.[5]
Controversy
Critics question the economic and environmental efficiency of the service.[6] According to a 2006 New York Times article on the program, the subsidy per passenger, averaged across the entire program excluding Alaska, is approximately $74, and much higher on some particularly poorly patronized flights[7] where subsidies are as high as $801 per passenger.[8]
The program is politically popular in the cities receiving the subsidized flights, many of which use an airport with scheduled service as a selling point to attract industry to their regions. Several subsidized airports are within an hour's drive from an unsubsidized airport.[6]
Report tables
The following tables list all Essential Air Service communities under the various funding programs. This is based on the most recent reports issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT),[9][10][11] and updated to reflect changes based on DOT orders. Docket and order numbers link to their respective pages on the docket management site, which typically includes the original files in PDF and other formats. The hubs are designated using the three-letter IATA airport code assigned by the International Air Transport Association.[12]
Alternate Essential Air Service
The Alternate Essential Air Service program grants funds directly to the municipality or airport authority instead of the air carrier. This allows the community to recruit air service that would not otherwise meet EAS guidelines, such as more frequent service with smaller aircraft, less-than-daily service, flights to differing destinations at different times of the year or week, on-demand air taxi service, scheduled or on-demand ground surface transportation, regionalized air service, or even purchasing an aircraft. This alternative program has most often occurred as a public charter arrangement as prescribed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 380. The first airport to enter this program was Manistee County Blacker Airport in 2012.[13]
Community Flexibility Pilot Program
Under the Community Flexibility Pilot Program, established in 2003, up to ten communities can receive a grant equal to two years' worth of subsidy in exchange for forgoing their EAS service for ten years.[14][15] These grants must be used to fund projects that will improve the airport for general aviation. As of 2020, only one community has ever taken advantage of the program:
| State | Community | Airport | Total grant | Docket | Order | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Visalia | Visalia Municipal Airport | $3,703,368 | 2004-19916 | 2017-1-2 | Apr 30, 2026 |
Subsidized EAS communities
Areas excluding Alaska
Alaska
| Community | Airport | Destinations | Carrier | Aircraft | Annual subsidy |
Docket | Order | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adak | Adak Airport | Anchorage (ANC) | Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $2,623,215 (year 1) $2,616,104 (year 2) |
2000-8556 | 2023-06-15 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Akutan | Akutan Airport | Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT) Akun Island (7AK) |
Grant Aviation Maritime Helicopters |
Beechcraft King Air 200 / 9 or Piper Navajo / 9 Bell 206 |
$1,550,110 (year 1) $1,706,657 (year 2) $1,860,691 (year 3) $1,040,113 (year 1) $1,098,078 (year 2) $1,152,195 (year 3) |
2000-7068 | 2023-03-18 | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Alitak / Lazy Bay | Alitak Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Amook Bay | Amook Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Angoon | Angoon Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Kalinin Aviation dba Alaska Seaplanes |
Cessna 208 Caravan / 9, Cessna 206 / 4, de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$142,843 (year 1) $221,313 (year 2) $319,097 (year 3) $440,619 (year 4) |
2006-25542 | 2022-12-11 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Atka | Atka Airport | Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT) | Grant Aviation | Beechcraft King Air 200 / 9 | $1,312,840 (year 1) $1,441,554 (year 2) $1,522,623 (year 3) |
1995-363 | 2022-06-02 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Central | Central Airport | Fairbanks (FAI)
Circle (CRC) |
Warbelow's Air Ventures | Piper Navajo / 8 | $225,982 | 1998-3621 | 2023-08-12 | Nov 30, 2025 |
| Chisana | Chisana Airport | Tok (TKJ) | 40-Mile Air | Cessna 185 / 3 or Cessna 206 and 207 / 4 |
$162,374 | 1998-4574 | 2023-06-02 | May 31, 2025 |
| Circle | Circle City Airport | Fairbanks (FAI)
Central (CEM) |
Warbelow's Air Ventures | Piper Navajo / 8 | $225,982 | 1998-3621 | 2023-08-12 | Nov 30, 2025 |
| Cordova | Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport | Anchorage (ANC)
Juneau (JNU) |
Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $4,320,331 (passenger) $44,586 (freighter) |
1998-4899 | 2023-03-17 | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Diomede | Diomede Heliport | Nome (OME) | Pathfinder Aviation | Bell 212 / 12 or Bell 412 / 12 |
$718,900 (year 1) $747,656 (year 2) $777,562 (year 3) |
2009-0260 | 2023-06-16 | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Elfin Cove | Elfin Cove Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Kalinin Aviation dba Alaska Seaplanes |
Cessna 208 Caravan / 9, Cessna 206 / 4, de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$329,352 (year 1) $388,744 (year 2) $460,787 (year 3) $548,306 (year 4) |
2002-11586 | 2022-12-11 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Excursion Inlet | Excursion Inlet Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Ward Air | Cessna 185 / 3 to 4, Cessna 206 / 3 to 4, Cessna 310 / 3 to 4 |
$36,657 (year 1) $40,103 (year 2) $43,894 (year 3) $49,250 (year 4) |
2002-12014 | 2022-08-23 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Gulkana | Gulkana Airport | Anchorage (ANC) | Reeve Air Alaska | Piper Navajo / 7 | $275,518 | 1995-492 | 2022-12-12 | Jan 31, 2025 |
| Gustavus | Gustavus Airport | Juneau (JNU) - Seasonal | Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $405,178 | 1998-4899 | 2023-03-17 | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Healy Lake | Healy Lake Airport | Fairbanks (FAI) | 40-Mile Air | Cessna 206 or 207 / 5 | $130,903 | 1998-3546 | 2022-03-05 | May 31, 2024 |
| Hydaburg | Hydaburg Seaplane Base | Ketchikan Harbor (WFB) | Taquan Air | de Havilland Beaver / 6 or de Havilland Otter / 7 |
$362,435 (year 1) $376,400 (year 2) $390,891 (year 3) $405,928 (year 4) $421,531 (year 5) |
1999-6245 | 2020-11-02 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Kake | Kake Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Kalinin Aviation dba Alaska Seaplanes |
Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 Pilatus PC-12 / 9 |
$449,818 (year 1) $536,020 (year 2) $640,195 (year 3) $755,304 (year 4) |
2008-0217 | 2022-08-23 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Kitoi Bay | Kitoi Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Lake Minchumina | Minchumina Airport | Fairbanks (FAI) | Wright Air Service | Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 or Piper Navajo / 9, and Cessna 206 / 4 |
$170,880 | 2008-0237 | 2022-09-17 | Oct 31, 2024 |
| Manley Hot Springs | Manley Hot Springs Airport | Fairbanks (FAI)
Minto (MNT) |
Warbelow's Air Ventures | Piper Navajo / 9 | $50,746 | 2004-17563 | 2022-06-03 | Aug 31, 2024 |
| May Creek | May Creek Airport | Gulkana (GKN) | Copper Valley Air Service | Cessna 185 / 3 (Winter) Cessna 206 / 4 (Summer) |
$346,222 | 1995-492 | 2022-12-12 | Jan 31, 2025 |
| McCarthy | McCarthy Airport | Gulkana (GKN) | Copper Valley Air Service | Cessna 185 / 3 (Winter) Cessna 206 / 4 (Summer) |
$346,222 | 1995-492 | 2022-12-12 | Jan 31, 2025 |
| McGrath | McGrath Airport | Anchorage (ANC) | Reeve Air Alaska | Beechcraft King Air / 9 | $698,450 (year 1) $712,372 (year 2) |
2017-0108 | 2022-11-30 | Nov 30, 2024 |
| Minto | Minto Al Wright Airport | Fairbanks (FAI)
Manley (MLY) |
Warbelow's Air Ventures | Piper Navajo / 9 | $50,746 | 2004-17563 | 2022-06-03 | Aug 31, 2024 |
| Moser Bay | Moser Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Nikolski | Nikolski Air Station | Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT) | Grant Aviation | Beechcraft King Air 200 / 9 or Piper Navajo / 9 |
$399,185 (year 1) $440,628 (year 2) $465,730 (year 3) |
1995-363 | 2022-06-02 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Olga Bay | Olga Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Pelican | Pelican Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Kalinin Aviation dba Alaska Seaplanes |
Cessna 208 Caravan / 9, Cessna 206 / 4, de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$578,820 (year 1) $700,936 (year 2) $853,751 (year 3) $1,040,497 (year 4) |
2002-11586 | 2022-12-11 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Petersburg | Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport | Juneau (JNU)
Ketchikan (KTN) Seattle (SEA) - Freighter |
Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $2,472,052 (passenger) $237,794 (freighter) |
1998-4899 | 2023-03-17 | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Port Alexander | Port Alexander Seaplane Base | Sitka (SIT) | Baranautica Air Service | Cessna 185 / 3 | $124,800 (initial rate) $127,920 (year 1) $131,118 (year 2) $134,396 (year 3) $137,756 (final rate) |
1999-6244 | 2021-09-13 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Port Bailey | Port Bailey Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Port Williams | Port Williams Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| St. George | St. George Airport | Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT) | Grant Aviation | Beechcraft King Air 200 / 9 | $1,054,496 (year 1) $1,147,390 (year 2) $1,198,524 (year 3) |
2017-0109 | 2022-06-02 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| San Juan / Uganik | San Juan (Uganik) Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Seal Bay | Seal Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Tatitlek | Tatitlek Airport | Anchorage-Merrill Field (MRI) | Alaska Air Transit | Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 | $257,009 | 2013-0030 | 2023-09-12 | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Tenakee Springs | Tenakee Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Kalinin Aviation dba Alaska Seaplanes |
Cessna 208 Caravan / 9, Cessna 206 / 4, de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$157,447 (year 1) $200,011 (year 2) $252,340 (year 3) $316,645 (year 4) |
2006-25542 | 2022-12-11 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| West Point | West Point Village Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | de Havilland Beaver / 6 | $38,408 | 2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Wrangell | Wrangell Airport | Ketchikan (KTN)
Juneau (JNU) Seattle (SEA) - Freighter |
Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $2,638,479 (passenger) $257,610 (freighter) |
1998-4899 | 2023-03-17 | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Yakutat | Yakutat Airport | Anchorage (ANC)
Juneau (JNU) |
Alaska Airlines | Boeing 737-700 / 124 | $4,348,600 (passenger) $42,838 (freighter) |
1998-4899 | 2023-03-17 | Apr 30, 2025 |
| Zachar Bay | Zachar Bay Seaplane Base | Kodiak (ADQ) | Island Air Service | Cessna 206 / 5 or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
$398,175 (year 1) $413,297 (year 2) $427,915 (year 3) $439,719 (year 4) $448,266 (year 5) |
2000-6945 | 2020-11-15 | Oct 31, 2025 |
Communities formerly having subsidized EAS
The following tables list airports which formerly had Essential Air Service subsidized routes.[16]
Areas excluding Alaska
| State | Community | Airport | Service to hub(s) | Carrier | Aircraft/seats | Docket | Order | Ended | Reason/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD | Hagerstown | Hagerstown Regional Airport | Baltimore (BWI)
Pittsburgh (PIT) |
Southern Airways Express | Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 | 2006-25228 | 2019-8-17 | Oct 18, 2019 | Below 10 passenger enplanement requirement and exceeded $200 subsidy cap. |
| NY | Jamestown | Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport | Pittsburgh (PIT) | Southern Airways Express | Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 | 2003-14950 | 2016-8-26 | Jan 16, 2018 | Below 10 passenger enplanement requirement and exceeded $200 subsidy cap. Multiple attempts to reestablish air service with Boutique Air have been denied.[17] |
| PA | Franklin / Oil City | Venango Regional Airport | Pittsburgh (PIT) | Southern Airways Express | Cessna 208 Caravan / 9 | 1997-2523 | 2019-8-17 | Oct 18, 2019 | Below 10 passenger enplanement requirement and exceeded $200 subsidy cap. |
| SD | Huron | Huron Regional Airport | Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) | Great Lakes Airlines | Beechcraft 1900D / 19 | 2000-7138 | 2014-7-10 | Sep 30, 2016 | Exceeded $1,000 subsidy cap |
Alaska
| Community | Airport | Service to hub(s) | Carrier | Aircraft | Docket | Order | Ended | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham | Chatham Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Ward Air | Cessna 185 / 3, or Cessna 206 / 4, or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
1997-3134 | 2018-8-15 | Sep 30, 2018 | Low resident count, no objections to terminating service |
| Rampart | Rampart Airport | Fairbanks (FAI) | Warbelow's Air Ventures | Piper Navajo / 9 | 2008-0201 | 2016-8-2 | Aug 2, 2016 | Subsidy no longer required |
| Funter Bay | Funter Bay Seaplane Base | Juneau (JNU) | Ward Air | Cessna 185 / 3, or Cessna 206 / 4, or de Havilland Beaver / 6 |
1997-3134 | 2018-8-15 | Sep 30, 2018 | Low resident count, no objections to terminating service |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Essential Air Service". U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Retrieved 1 Oct 2014.
- 1 2 3 Tang, Rachel Y. (3 September 2015). "Essential Air Service (EAS)" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ↑ "Ten places to cut waste as Congress considers a budget", Romina Boccia, January 15, 2014, also published in the Washington Times.
- ↑ "Subsidized EAS report for communities in 48 states, HI, PR, May 2023" (PDF). transportation.gov. United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). May 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- 1 2 "Essential Air Service". Transportation.gov. US Department of Transportation. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- 1 2 "Federal Subsidies Keep Small-Town Airports Flying". NPR. November 18, 2009.
- ↑ Bailey, Jeff (October 6, 2006). "Subsidies Keep Airlines Flying to Small Towns". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
- ↑ "Comparison of Essential Air Service Program to Alternative Coach Bus Service" (PDF). American Bus Association. September 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Archived as of February 2, 2012 - ↑ "Essential Air Service Reports". U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
- ↑ "US Non-Alaskan Subsidized EAS Report". U.S. Department of Transportation. October 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
- ↑ "US Alaskan Subsidized EAS Report". U.S. Department of Transportation. October 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Airline and Airport Code Search". International Air Transport Association (IATA). Retrieved 29 Jun 2018.
- ↑ Kotler, Fred B. Passenger Air Service in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Overview and Analysis, UPWard Initiative, November 2012, Retrieved 2015-04-01
- ↑ Steinberg, Andrew B. (June 15, 2017). "Improving Air Service to Small and Rural Communities". US Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ↑ "Order 2016-5-8 - Community Flexibility Pilot Program - Order Requesting Applications" (PDF). US Department of Transportation. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-30. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Regulations.gov". www.regulations.gov. Retrieved 2021-01-06.