Rep. Pappas calls on U.S. Department of Transportation to Protect Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Other Regional Airports Hit Hard by the Coronavirus

Statement

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led a number of his colleagues in urging the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Treasury to take action to protect Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) and other regional airports as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause massive flight cancelations and other disruptions to the nation's commercial aviation system.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Pappas urged the administration to condition the receipt of U.S. Treasury funding to major airlines on the continuation of flights at Manchester and other regional airports. Under the plan that is currently being considered, carriers would be allowed to consolidate service to the detriment of smaller airports like Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

"Our airport in Manchester is a major employer for our region and a significant economic driver for our state," said Congressman Pappas. "This pandemic is disrupting operations and threatens the long-term progress that was underway at MHT. To ensure the viability of our airport and other regional airports, we need the Department of Transportation and Department of the Treasury to take immediate action and tell the airlines that they won't be able to receive billions in taxpayer dollars unless they commit to continuing flights at smaller airports. The health of MHT, the strength of our business climate, and livelihoods of thousands of Granite State workers is at stake."

Source