The Essential Air Service (EAS) is a federal program that subsidizes airlines to serve smaller communities. This program was created after airline deregulation to ensure that remote areas remain connected to the national air network. In order to qualify for EAS, airlines must offer at least two daily flights. One such community that benefits from this program is Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a town of around 8,000 residents.
EAS is a vital lifeline for smaller communities, providing them with access to larger hub airports and the broader global aviation network. Out of the 177 communities in the United States that are part of the program, 65 are in Alaska.
The EAS program was implemented during a time when the airline industry was heavily regulated by the government. As the industry began to consolidate, many airlines pulled out of smaller, less profitable airports, leaving them without adequate transportation services. In response, Congress added the Essential Air Service program to ensure that people in remote areas would still have access to transportation.
The Department of Transportation provides airlines with a subsidy on a per-flight-completed basis, which can range from a few million to a few thousand dollars per route per year. While there are minimum requirements for plane sizes and frequencies, operators have flexibility in the type of aircraft and service they offer.
Booking an EAS flight is similar to booking any other airline flight. Most flights are bookable online, either through the operator’s website or the website of the marketing airline. Some EAS flights are operated by regional subsidiaries or mainline carriers such as JetBlue.
To qualify for EAS, communities in the continental United States must have received subsidies between September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2011. In order to continue qualifying, EAS airports must maintain a minimum of 10 passengers per subsidized flight on average per day, unless they are more than 175 miles from the nearest larger airport. The subsidy must be less than $650 per passenger on average, or less than $850 per passenger for communities that are 175 miles or more from the nearest airport. Hawaii and Alaska have different requirements.
Airlines bidding for EAS contracts must plan to operate at least two daily flights to the subsidized community on 30- or 50-seat aircraft. However, the Department of Transportation may relax these requirements on a case-by-case basis. In 2025, the DOT spent nearly $690 million on EAS grants.
The EAS program has proven to be a crucial lifeline for smaller communities, connecting them to the larger air network and supporting their economic growth. As air travel continues to evolve, the Essential Air Service will remain an important program in ensuring that remote areas remain connected to the rest of the country.