Thirteen airports in the U.S. have until mid-May to appeal a Department of Transportation directive that will end subsidized air service in their markets.
The directive, issued April 24, gives the targeted airports 20 days to “show cause as to why the department should not terminate the eligibility” of the communities in the controversial Essential Air Service program.
The proposed cuts come after the U.S. Congress scrutinized the EAS program ahead of passage of the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. In that, new EAS requirements call for an average of at least 10 passenger enplanements per day to maintain eligibility if the airport is located within 175 miles of a large- or medium-hub airport.
Thirteen airports in nine states did not meet the requirements.
Airports targeted for the EAS cut include Athens-Ben Epps (AHN); Bradford Regional (BFD); Fort Dodge Regional (FOD); Hagerstown Regional (HGR); Imperial County (IPL); Kingman (IGM); Lancaster (LNS); McKellar Sipes Regional (MKL); Merced Regional (MCE); Mid Delta Regional (GLH); Middle Georgia Regional (MCN); Northwest Alabama Regional (MSL) and Venango Regional (FKL).
In a statement, the DOT said it “will do everything we can to work with Congress and our EAS stakeholders to mitigate potential impacts to communities affected by these actions and protect the long-term viability of the EAS program.”
There are 163 EAS airports receiving subsidies in the United States.
