HOW ESSENTIAL IS ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICES

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his opposition to a proposed amendment to cut the Essential Air Services (EAS) program during the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization this week. The FAA reauthorization bill calls for an additional $73 million for the EAS program that Schumer supports, but Senator John McCain has offered an amendment to repeal the entire program. Six rural airports in New York, as well as more than 100 others across the country, benefit from the federal Essential Air Service program, and would be at serious risk without this funding. Not only does the EAS program provide air services to underserved rural communities, but it is an economic engine in those regions, contributing to the success of local businesses and promoting job creation and growth.

"There is no question about it - access to air travel is good for businesses, good for jobs, and good for the financial health of the community," Schumer said. "This amendment not only cuts off entire communities from air service, but irresponsibly endangers their economies as a whole. Without reliable airports in these rural communities, businesses and jobs will suffer. I will fight this tooth and nail to make sure that Upstate New Yorkers have access to reliable, affordable air travel."

Essential Air Services funding provides critical subsidies to support commercial air service to underserved rural communities across the country. In New York, there are six rural airports dependent on the EAS program for their survival: Jamestown receives $1,350,803, Watertown receives $1,228,334, Massena receives $1,297,613, Ogdensburg receives $1,353,916, Plattsburgh receives $1,379,257, and Saranac Lake and Lake Placid receive $ 1,366,538. 

This week the Senate is debating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill which sets air travel policy for the entire country. Yesterday, Senator McCain proposed an amendment to the FAA reauthorization eliminating EAS funding which if passed would strike a critical blow to Upstate New York's airports and irreparably harm the economy in those regions.

The Essential Air Service program was developed after the airline industry was deregulated in 1978. Deregulation gave airlines the freedom to decide which markets to serve and how much to charge for that service. This led to a scarcity of air service in many rural communities across the country where operating costs were higher and populations were smaller and less dense. The EAS program was put in to place to guarantee air service to these underserved communities. EAS provides subsidies to commuter airlines across the country to serve approximately 140 rural communities, including seven communities in Upstate New York.

Without EAS, there would likely be no scheduled air service to Jamestown, Watertown, Massena, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Senator McCain's proposal would force New Yorkers in those regions to travel long distances to access air service, but would also eliminate hundreds of jobs and harm local businesses that rely on air service for their success.