The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a notice to air carriers participating in the Essential Air Service (EAS) program indicating how those carriers may adjust their schedules and seek compensation due to the significant reduction in passenger demand and the resulting financial impact.
The DOT’s plan authorizes payment of 50 percent of the contracted per-flight subsidy for flights that are not operated, so long as an EAS air carrier serving a community in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico completes at least one round trip flight a day, six days a week, for that EAS community, and an EAS air carrier serving a community in Alaska completes at least 50 percent of its weekly schedule for that EAS community.
In addition, DOT said it will not take enforcement action against EAS carriers that fail to meet level-of-service requirements in cases where the reduction of passenger demand can be attributed to the impact of COVID-19.
The plan, retroactive to March 1 and in effect through June 30, applies to all 160 communities in the United States and Puerto Rico that receive EAS subsidized service, but it does not apply to the eight communities receiving Alternate EAS grants.
