Regional Carriers Pledge To Maintain EAS Flights Despite Funding Uncertainty

Regional airlines are pledging to maintain scheduled service to rural communities even as the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) prepares to suspend payments under the Essential Air Service (EAS) and Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) programs if the government shutdown extends beyond Oct. 12.

The department has warned that beginning Oct. 13, it will be unable to reimburse carriers for EAS flights or AEAS grant operations until Congress restores funding. The move would affect 177 communities nationwide that rely on subsidized air service to maintain vital connections to the U.S. air transportation system.

“Should a prolonged government-wide lapse in appropriations last beyond Oct. 12, the Department will relieve air carriers of their obligations under EAS contracts,” a notice from the DOT stated. “Air carriers that continue to operate EAS flights beyond Oct. 12 would do so at their own risk as the Department may not be able to pay the contracted subsidy.”

Funding for both programs comes from two sources—congressional appropriations and mandatory spending from overflight fees collected by the FAA. With appropriations lapsed, the DOT said it has limited access to funding, and the uncertain flow of overflight fees could only support “pro rata” payments, insufficient to sustain the programs if the shutdown is prolonged.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed during an Oct. 6 briefing that the DOT had managed to extend funding for several days but warned that EAS “is going to be impacted as of Sunday.” He said the department is working to “keep this process with minimal impact” while tracking rising stress across the aviation system.

Despite the uncertainty, several regional carriers say they will continue serving EAS routes to protect community access. “We remain committed to maintaining regional air connectivity for the Essential Air Service communities we serve,” says Deanna White, CEO and COO of Surf Air Mobility, parent company of Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines.

“Despite this potential funding interruption, we will continue flying all EAS routes with full scheduled service as planned. Regional air travel is critical to keeping these communities connected to the broader aviation network. We are absorbing all operational costs during this unfunded period to ensure service continuity for the communities that depend on us.”

SkyWest Airlines struck a similar tone, saying it is “working with each community and evaluating our capabilities in the event of a longer-term government shutdown.” The carrier adds: “It is our intent to honor our service commitments, including those under the federal EAS program, which provide an essential economic lifeline for the regions we serve.”

However, the Regional Airline Association (RAA), which represents carriers operating the majority of EAS routes, is urging Congress to reach a funding deal quickly. “The current government shutdown only adds stress to an air transportation system that is already plagued with delays, disruptions, and cancellations,” RAA President and CEO Faye Malarkey Black says.

“This program is an essential economic lifeline for 169 airports who are often hit the hardest whenever there is disruption in the national airspace system.”

She adds that before the pandemic, commercial air service at EAS airports had an economic impact of $2.3 billion, supported more than 17,000 U.S. jobs, and enabled the operation of hundreds of daily flights from airports an average distance of 200 miles from the next nearest medium or large hub airport.

EAS funding totaled nearly $500 million in 2024, supporting small-community service across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Alaska was a major beneficiary, receiving more than $40 million in 2024.

However, the program, now nearing its 50th year, has come under renewed scrutiny in recent months amid broader government cost-cutting efforts. While Duffy has expressed support for maintaining EAS rural air links, policy proposals such as Project 2025 have questioned whether the long-running subsidy remains justified.