Could Pennsylvania’s smaller airports lose their funding and support?
The idea could be placed on the table when the U.S. House begins debate on the FAA reauthorization bill.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-10), along with Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), have an amendment to the bill that calls for the elimination of the Essential Air Service (EAS), the government program that helps support rural airports.
Perry introduced H.R. 3822 – the End EAS Act – which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, calling for the repeal of Subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code.
There are five Pennsylvania airports among the 110 that are eligible as EAS communities – Altoona, Bradford, DuBois, Johnstown and Lancaster.
A national coalition is fighting back to advocate for policy and legal changes in support of rural airports. RESTORE, or “Restoring Essential Service to Our Rural Economies,” represents airports and regional stakeholders that have suffered a significant hit to daily air service since the pandemic.
“Our small and rural community airports are the main economic driver for our regions, and airports like ours are getting hit worst and first. Issues like the pilot shortage, mass cancelations, and just a lack of dedicated daily air service are hurting our communities and creating an economic challenge”, says Richard Howell, Director for the Williamsport Regional Airport and RESTORE spokesman.
The Essential Air Service (EAS) and Small Community Air Service Development program (SCASD) are two programs providing air-service to rural and smaller communities. However, the EAS program is currently closed off to airports who want to join the program, per the 2012 FAA Reauthorization, making the reauthorization bill all the more important.
Perry and McClintock’s amendment runs opposite of the efforts of Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09), who has introduced a pair of bills aimed at expanding air travel opportunities for individuals living in middle America, while simultaneously reducing congestion at our Nation’s major airports.
“By opening up additional opportunities for regional airports to expand, it is my hope we can restore commercial flights in Williamsport and make air travel more convenient and stress-free for all Americans,” he said in a statement. “These bills are a win for travelers in Districts like ours and will benefit the economies of rural communities across the country.”
The FAA reauthorization bill calls for funding of small community air service of
- $332 million for FY24
- $312M for FY25
- $300M for FY26
- $265M for FY27
- $252M for FY28
Finally, the bill also calls for a study of the change in costs of the EAS program with a report to be submitted to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after authorization.
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7 Responses
Lancaster Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in the state. It ranks ahead of Harrisburg! There are multiple flight schools at KLNS and it would be a shame to affect an airport that is helping to influence the pilot shortage!
Lancaster airport has two commercial flights a day. the purpose of the EAS program is to subsidize small rural airports to allow for commercial flights for those areas where residents have a significant drive to get to another airport. Lancaster does not meet this criteria. Lancaster would survive based on private, corporate and charter flights but it is a stretch to argue it need EAS funding. Lancaster airport has just a few puddle jumper commercial flights a day. They also have shuttle buses to the philly airport. If Lancaster gets EAS funding then so should the Reading airport. Both are too close to other major airports to get this funding in my opinion.
Small rural airports are a waste of money. No commerce there; only rich local guys who can buy an airplane and hobbyists.
WOW. House Freedom Caucus Chair Perry represents the district encompassing York County, pretty much next to Lancaster. Wonder how his constituents would feel about that – oops, he lives in D.C. and we pay for his “commute” anyway – nevermind!
Wow. DC resident Scott Perry really DOES hate Upstate PA. That dude will never win a statewide Republican primary.
Subsidizing the Lancaster airport doesn’t make sense. Parts of Lancaster county are less than 15 minutes away form the Harrisburg airport with most of the county population within 30 minutes of the Harrisburg airport. Philly and BWI are not that far either. It seems that Williamsport should get a subsidy but does not. Other airports like Erie are barely surviving. This program needs to be re-visited.
This would be the normal, logical, bipartisan way to go – oops, nevermind!