Schumer Votes to Protect Essential Air Services Program - EAS Is Critical Investment for Air Service to Upstate New York; Creates Jobs, Stimulates Local Economies

Press Release

Schumer Votes To Save Essential Air Services Program; Critical to Commercial Air Service In Underserved Rural Communities Across NY and Country

Cuts to Funding Would Hurt Local Businesses and Tourism, Eliminate Jobs and Harm Financial Health of Regions Like Jamestown, Watertown, and Lake Placid

Schumer: Proposal Cuts Off Already Underserved New Yorkers From Air Service, Jobs and Business

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer voted to defeat a proposed amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization which would have cut the Essential Air Services (EAS) program. The Schumer-supported FAA reauthorization bill calls for an additional $73 million for the EAS program, but Senator John McCain had offered an amendment to repeal the entire program. Six rural airports in New York, as well as more than 100 others across the country, benefit from the federal Essential Air Service program, and would be at serious risk without this funding. Not only does the EAS program provide air services to underserved rural communities, but it is an economic engine in those regions, contributing to the success of local businesses and promoting job creation and growth.

"There is no question about it - access to air travel is good for businesses, good for jobs, and good for the financial health of the community," Schumer said. "This amendment not only attempts to cut off entire communities from air service, but irresponsibly endangers their economies as a whole. Without reliable access to air travel in these rural communities, businesses and jobs will suffer. I am pleased that we beat this amendment, and I will keep fighting to make sure that New York's airports get the full EAS funding that they deserve."

Essential Air Services funding provides critical subsidies to support commercial air service to underserved rural communities across the country. In New York, there are six rural airports dependent on the EAS program for their survival: Jamestown receives $1,350,803, Watertown receives $1,228,334, Massena receives $1,297,613, Ogdensburg receives $1,353,916, Plattsburgh receives $1,379,257, and Saranac Lake and Lake Placid receive $ 1,366,538.

For the past two weeks, the Senate has been debating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill which sets air travel policy for the entire country. Earlier in the debates, Senator McCain proposed an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill eliminating EAS funding, which, if passed, would strike a critical blow to Upstate New York's airports and irreparably harm the economy in those regions.

The Essential Air Service program was developed after the airline industry was deregulated in 1978. Deregulation gave airlines the freedom to decide which markets to serve and how much to charge for that service. This led to a scarcity of air service in many rural communities across the country where operating costs were higher and populations were smaller and less dense. The EAS program was put in to place to guarantee air service to these underserved communities. EAS provides subsidies to commuter airlines across the country to serve approximately 140 rural communities, including seven communities in Upstate New York.

Without EAS, there would likely be no scheduled air service to Jamestown, Watertown, Massena, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Senator McCain's proposal would force New Yorkers in those regions to travel long distances to access air service, but would also eliminate hundreds of jobs and harm local businesses that rely on air service for their success.

Today, Schumer voted to defeat the proposal to cut the Essential Air Services program, which funds commercial air service in underserved rural community across NY and the country. This $73 million increase in EAS funding will not only preserve air services to these communities, but will also be a shot in the arm for local businesses and tourism in those regions.

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