Alamosa Unable to Qualify for Part 139 Certification, Current EAS…

Just like airlines, airports in the U.S. are required to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and must each pass a certain number of qualifications. The city of Alamosa, Colorado has been improving its airport, the San Luis Valley Regional Airport, for the past couple of years so…

Boutique Air Announces Two New Destinations

During the age of COVID-19, planes are not as full as they used to be. With lighter loads and passengers wanting to be around fewer people, one airline has decided it could find a niche in this lower load market. San Francisco-based Boutique Air has announced two new destinations to…

The AirlineGeeks Podcast Episode 14: A Look Into EAS, Dreamliner,…

Thank you for reading the AirlineGeeks Podcast Recap. This article gives a brief look at this week’s episode of our news podcast. For our full analysis of each of these stories, you can listen to The AirlineGeeks Podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or through our distributor, Anchor. This…

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 —…

Interview: Boutique Air Resumes Nashville Service

In this exclusive interview with Brian Kondrad, the assistant general manager of Boutique Air, we discuss the carrier's plan to resume service to Nashville, Tenn. from their current cities of Greenville, Miss. and Muscle Shoals, Ala. Boutique has operated flights to Nashville in the past, but they were discontinued back…

Cape Air Chosen for Manistee Essential Air Service Despite Controversy

After many months of consideration and debate, a new Essential Air Service or 'EAS' contract has been selected for the Manistee/Ludington airport in northwestern Michigan. The carrier chosen is Cape Air, despite controversy and letters from both community members and the CEO of San Francisco-based Boutique Air. At the beginning…

Manistee Airport Backs EAS Provider Amid Controversy

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, routes provided by Essential Air Service (EAS) — a Department of Transporation (DOT) program that subsidizes flights to airports that might not otherwise receive service — have become, as the name suggests, essential. That's true not only for the communities and travelers that rely on the…

Boutique Air Schedules First New Destination in Two Years

During this unprecedented time in aviation, it has been rare to see an airline begin a new route let alone a new destination, but that is exactly what is happening at Boutique Air. The San Francisco-based commuter airline has announced the first new destination to its route map since November…

When the Local Airfield Becomes an International Airport: A Look…

Massena, N.Y., a town of slightly over 12,000 inhabitants just south of the St. Lawrence River, is located a little more than 100 kilometers from both Ottawa and Montreal, and only a 20-minute drive from the Canadian town of Cornwall, Ontario. Though firmly in the United States, the town's main…