
U.S. Essential Air Service

Essential Air Service: What It Is and Why It's Needed
Every year, people around the country pay their taxes and begin to complain about which government programs are necessary and which are not. And every year the same question comes up: why does the government shell out millions of dollars in federal aid to airlines in order to fly — in some cases empty aircraft — to cities nobody has ever heard of? Because it’s essential. History of EAS Essential Air Service has played an interesting role in this country…

Sun Country Loses Its Only Essential Air Service Contract
After less than two years of serving the community, Sun Country will lose out on federal subsidies in Eau Claire, Wis. The change comes as the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission overwhelmingly voted in July to support SkyWest's proposal to…

JetBlue Begins Subsidized Air Service
JetBlue will receive over $10 million a year from the federal government to operate its newest route. On Thursday, the airline launched a new service between Boston and Presque Isle, Maine. In June, JetBlue was selected by the U.S. Department…

Rare Dornier Jet Service Coming to Atlanta
Colorado-based Denver Air Connection, more commonly known as DAC, is once again moving farther east. In conjunction with the newly awarded contract in the Essential Air Service (EAS) community of Jackson, Tenn., the airline will serve that community 11 times…

Pueblo Receives Six EAS Proposals
The Essential Air Service (EAS) program is getting more interesting with the introduction of new airlines trying to snap up these EAS contracts like Breeze and JetBlue, the latter of which has won a contract. Plus, the recently passed FAA…

Sun Country Could Lose Its Only EAS Contract
Sun Country faces the potential loss of its only Essential Air Service (EAS) contract in Eau Claire, Wis., as the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission has voted to recommend a different carrier. The decision comes as the current $6.5 million…