In The News
Common Wealth Journal: SPEDA, Airport seeking help from rural air service advocacy group
Staff, September 2023
The Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) and the Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (LCRA) continue their fight to bring commercial air service to Pulaski County by joining a national coalition of communities seeking to reestablish daily air service at their airports.
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RESTORE — Restoring Essential Service To Our Rural Economies — works to build support for policy solutions that can offer relief for communities impacted by regional air service issues. One specific challenge is reopening the federal government’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program to small and rural airports that have not had access since 2012.Read More.
NPR: More Small Airports are Being Cut off From the Air Travel Network. This is Why
By Adam Bearne, September 2023
There haven't been any commercial airline flights out of Williamsport since American Airlines left in 2021. To lose service entirely is rare. But the withdrawal of legacy airlines from regional airports is a growing phenomenon. American, Delta and United combined have left 74 regional airports since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study by aviation consulting firm Ailevon Pacific. Read More.
Politico: Regional airports lobby for federal help amid service cuts
By Caitlin Oprysko, June 2023
Regional airports and other community stakeholders are launching a new coalition pressing lawmakers to revamp federal programs aimed at keeping small airports afloat following service cuts by large airlines in recent years. Members of the alliance, called RESTORE Air Service, include Pennsylvania’s Williamsport Regional Airport and the city and county governments; Maryland’s Hagerstown Regional Airport, Texas’ Del Rio International Airport, the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and New York’s Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. Read More.
Fox: New group formed with goal of bringing back air service to rural areas
June 2023
A group of airports and concerned stakeholders have launched an advocacy coalition, RESTORE Air Service. RESTORE (Restoring Essential Service to Our Rural Economies) is comprised of airports and regional stakeholders that have lost significant—if not all—daily air service since the pandemic. Led by Williamsport Regional Airport, located in Lycoming County Pennsylvania (home of the Little League World Series), the coalition will be working with Congress and the Biden Administration to promote changes in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Bill to better support rural and small community airports.
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Airport coalition formed to RESTORE service
June 2023
A group of airports and concerned stakeholders have launched an advocacy coalition, RESTORE Air Service. RESTORE (Restoring Essential Service to Our Rural Economies) is comprised of airports and regional stakeholders that have lost significant — if not all — daily air service since the pandemic. Read More.
Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Terminates EAS Waiver Program at Hagerstown Regional Airport
October 14, 2019
Southern Airways states, “Due to the Department of Transportation’s Order Termination Essential Air Service at Hagerstown Regional Airport, Southern Airways has temporarily suspended ticket sales to and from that city, effective October 19. The termination is based on results from Fiscal Year 2018, when service at the community was recovering from the effects of the National Pilot Shortage. The improved 2019 Fiscal Year results were not considered by the Department when finalizing the termination order.. Read More.
Politico: Rural America dips into its wallet as airlines drop service
By Liz Crampton Aratani, April 2023
At least 324 airports have seen service cuts since January 2020, and more than 14 airports have lost commercial service completely. Del Rio, a crucial Texas border town stop for U.S.-bound Central and South American migrants — and the Americans assisting them — is home to the largest pilot training base in the U.S. Air Force.
It’s also been cut off from the rest of the country. Read More.
Washington Post: With Routes Slashed During Pandemic, Small Airports Are on Shaky Flight Path
By Lori Aratani, April 2022
Williamsport Regional Airport lost commercial air service when American Airlines stopped daily flights in October. It’s searching for a new carrier and can offer nearly $1 million from a federal grant, but has no takers....The loss of commercial flights comes as small communities increasingly are struggling to maintain services, such as quality health care, amid population declines. Read More.