what is providing the flights through an Essential Air Service contract from the US Department of Transportation?
Little Rock, AR – Scheduled airline service will return to four Arkansas cities on Oct. 26. SeaPort Airlines of Oregon will provide flights from Memphis to airports in Hot Springs, El Dorado, Harrison and Jonesboro. SeaPort is providing the flights through an Essential Air Service contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Say It On 7: Click Here to Comment on this Story The airports in the four cities have been without passenger service since June 2008 when Mesa Airlines ended its service. SeaPort will use 9-seat Pilatus PC-12 single turboprop airplanes for the flights. Sources: http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1009/668033.
The Airline Deregulation Act, passed in 1978, gave airlines almost total freedom to determine which markets to serve domestically and what fares to charge for that service. The Essential Air Service (EAS) program was put into place to guarantee that small communities that were served by certificated air carriers before deregulation maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service. The Department currently subsidizes commuter airlines to serve approximately 140 rural communities across the country that otherwise would not receive any scheduled air service. For more information contact the EAS and Domestic Analysis Division at (202) 366-5903. Sources: http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/x-50%20Role_files/essentialairservice.
SeaPort Airlines of Oregon will provide flights from Memphis to airports in Hot Springs, El Dorado, Harrison and Jonesboro. SeaPort is providing the flights through an Essential Air Service contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The airports in the four cities have been without passenger service since June 2008 when Mesa Airlines ended its service. Sources: SeaPort will use 9-seat Pilatus PC-12 single turboprop airplanes for the flights.
