How essential is Essential Air Service?

How essential is Essential Air Service? Zach White

The economy has been in the dumps for several years, and budget concerns blanket all levels of government across the country.

A 30-year-old Department of Transportation subsidy for rural airports, called Essential Air Service, has caused some to question just how essential it is.

Established as a part of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, the subsidy was set up to pay airlines to provide service to communities that would otherwise be unprofitable to serve.

The program was set up to run for 10 years, to end in 1988, and would exist to either he...