The United States government has proposed a USD308 million cut to the discretionary funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) scheme.
On May 2, President Donald J. Trump released a budget proposal for 2026 federal funding levels. He argued that EAS funnels taxpayer dollars to airlines to subsidise half-empty flights from airports that are within easy commuting distance from each other and fails to effectively provide assistance to most rural air travellers.
“Spending on programs is out of control, more than doubling between 2021 and 2025. The budget reins in EAS subsidies by proposing a mix of reforms to adjust eligibility and subsidy rates to help rural communities’ air transportation needs in a more sustainable manner,” the budget request stated.
The administration did not state which airports may lose their EAS services and how they could be replaced. The program was created following the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.
At the end of 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) provided EAS subsidies worth USD591.7 million to maintain connectivity to 65 communities in Alaska and 112 communities in the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The budget proposal was released on Friday, May 2, and is subject to approval by the US Congress.
Some of the airlines operating EAS flights across the United States are Alaska Airlines, Grant Aviation, Maritime Helicopters, Alaska Seaplanes, Contour Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Key Lime Air, American Airlines, Cape Air, JetBlue Airways, Advanced Air, Boutique Air, and more.
