Essential Air Service (EAS) is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which had been served by certificated airlines prior to deregulation in 1978, maintain commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these communities that otherwise would not be profitable. The program is codified at .

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) subsidizes airlines to serve communities across the country that otherwise would not receive scheduled air service. As of June 1, 2015, 159 communities in the US received EAS subsidies, of which 44 were in Alaska, two in Hawaii, and one in Puerto Rico. The decision as to what degree of subsidized service a community requires is made based on identifying a specific hub for the community and from there determining the number of trips, seats, and type of aircraft that are necessary to serve that hub.

These increases occurred despite numerous Congressional measures to contain program spending. The George W. Bush administration sought to reduce the cost of the program to $50 million by stricter eligibility criteria and requiring the local governments of the areas served to contribute to the cost. As of October 2024, subsidies for the program amounted $550 million.

Community eligibility criteria

Pursuant to the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2000, no community within the 48 contiguous states may receive a subsidy greater than $200 per passenger unless the community is more than from the nearest large or medium hub airport. Pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, to be eligible for the program, a community in the contiguous 48 states must either maintain an average of 10 or more enplanements per service day or be located more than from the nearest large or medium hub airport. The criteria for 10 or more enplanements can be waived by the Secretary of Transportation, on an annual basis, if a community can demonstrate that it is due to a temporary decline.

The Department of Transportation, pursuant to the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2015, is required to negotiate a local cost share with communities located less than from a small hub airport.

Controversy Critics question the economic and environmental efficiency of the service. According to a 2006 New York Times article on the program, the subsidy per passenger, averaged across the entire program excluding Alaska, is approximately $74, and much higher on some particularly poorly patronized flights where subsidies are as high as $801 per passenger. Archived as of February 2, 2012

The program is politically popular in the cities receiving the subsidized flights, many of which use an airport with scheduled service as a selling point to attract industry to their regions. Several subsidized airports are within an hour's drive from an unsubsidized airport.

Report tables The following tables list all Essential Air Service communities under the various funding programs. This is based on the most recent reports issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and updated to reflect changes based on DOT orders. Docket and order numbers link to their respective pages on the docket management site, which typically includes the original files in PDF and other formats. The hubs are designated using the three-letter IATA airport code assigned by the International Air Transport Association.

Subsidized EAS communities

Areas excluding Alaska JurisdictionCommunityAirportDestinationsAir carrierAircraft / maximum seatsAnnual subsidyDocketOrderExpiresAZPrescottErnest A. Love FieldDenver (DEN) Los Angeles (LAX)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$5,879,690 $6,291,268 $6,731,657 1996-18992024-08-12ARHarrisonBoone County AirportDallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Memphis (MEM)Southern Airways ExpressCessna 208 Caravan / 9$3,789,614 $3,884,355 $3,981,464 $4,081,000 1997-29352023-01-10ARHot SpringsMemorial Field AirportDallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Memphis (MEM)Southern Airways ExpressCessna 208 Caravan / 9$2,936,106 $3,009,509 $3,084,747 $3,161,866 1997-29352023-01-10ARJonesboroJonesboro Municipal AirportNashville (BNA) St. Louis (STL)Southern Airways ExpressCessna 208B Caravan / 9$4,530,458 $4,643,668 (year 2)1997-29352026-03-16CAEl CentroImperial County AirportHawthorne (HHR) Phoenix (PHX)Advanced AirKing Air 350 / 9$5,355,138 $5,676,446 $6,017,033 $6,378,055 2008-02992026-09-13CAMercedMerced Regional AirportLas Vegas (LAS) Los Angeles (LAX)Corporate Flight Management d.b.a. Contour AirlinesEmbraer ERJ-135 / 30$5,908,551 $6,203,979 $6,514,178 $6,839,886 1998-35212026-03-19COAlamosaSan Luis Valley Regional AirportDenver (DEN)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionDornier 328JET / 30 or Embraer ERJ-145 / 50$4,992,596 $5,142,374 1997-29602026-06-16COCortezCortez Municipal AirportDenver (DEN) Phoenix (PHX)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionMetroliner 23 / 9$6,876,394 $7,357,741 $7,872,783 $8,423,878 1998-35082024-08-08COPuebloPueblo Memorial AirportDenver (DEN)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionDornier 328JET / 30 or Embraer ERJ-145 / 50$6,449,526 $6,836,498 1999-65892025-03-07HIHanaHana AirportKahului (OGG)Southern Airways Express d.b.a. Mokulele AirlinesCessna 208 Caravan / 9$956,792 $995,064 $1,034,866 $1,076,261 1999-65022024-01-14HIKamuelaWaimea-Kohala AirportKahului (OGG)Southern Airways Express d.b.a. Mokulele AirlinesCessna 208 Caravan / 9$1,006,986 $1,032,161 $1,057,965 $1,084,414 1997-28332025-07-03HIKalaupapaKalaupapa AirportHonolulu (HNL) Molokai (MKK)Southern Airways Express d.b.a. Mokulele AirlinesCessna 208 Caravan / 9$2,380,027 $2,439,528 $2,500,516 $2,563,029 2000-67732021-05-02HILānaʻiLanai AirportHonolulu (HNL) Kahului (OGG)Southern Airways Express d.b.a. Mokulele AirlinesCessna 208 Caravan / 9$4,682,056 $4,799,107 $4,919,085 $5,042,062 2023-01832026-09-08IAFort DodgeFort Dodge Regional AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,471,432 $6,924,432 $7,409,142 2001-106822024-03-06IAMason CityMason City Municipal AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,537,921 $6,995,575 $7,485,266 2001-106842024-03-06IASioux CitySioux Gateway AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD) Denver (DEN)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$5,358,880 $5,734,001 $6,135,381 2011-01312023-12-20IAWaterlooWaterloo Regional AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as American Eagle)Bombardier CRJ700 / 65 or Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$5,999,431 $6,179,414 $6,364,796 $6,555,740 2011-01322026-03-12ILDecaturDecatur AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,120,951 $6,426,999 $6,748,349 $7,085,766 2006-239292024-12-12ILMarion / HerrinVeterans Airport of Southern IllinoisChicago-O'Hare (ORD)American Airlines Group (as American Eagle)Bombardier CRJ700 / 65 or Embraer E170 / 65$4,957,031 $5,105,742 2000-78812026-05-14KSDodge CityDodge City Regional AirportDenver (DEN)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,880,125 $7,361,734 $7,877,055 1998-35022024-05-04KSGarden CityGarden City Regional AirportDallas/Fort Worth (DFW)American Airlines Group (as American Eagle)Bombardier CRJ700 / 65 or Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$4,795,324 $4,939,183 $5,087,359 $5,239,980 1998-35032026-05-15KSHaysHays Regional AirportDenver (DEN)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,022,964 $6,444,571 $6,895,691 1998-34972024-05-01KSLiberal, KS / Guymon, OKLiberal Mid-America Regional AirportDenver (DEN)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,524,077 $6,980,762 $7,469,415 1998-34982024-05-04KSSalinaSalina Regional AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD) Denver (DEN)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$5,958,376 $6,375,463 $6,821,745 2002-113762023-12-18KYOwensboroOwensboro–Daviess County Regional AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$5,521,400 $5,687,042 $5,857,654 $6,033,383 2000-78552023-05-30KYPaducahBarkley Regional AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$4,549,562 $4,686,049 $4,826,631 $4,971,429 2009-02992025-09-19MEAugusta / WatervilleAugusta State AirportBoston (BOS)Hyannis Air Service d.b.a. Cape AirTecnam P2012 Traveller / 9$3,021,655 $3,263,388 $3,524,459 $3,806,416 1997-27842022-09-19MEBar HarborHancock County–Bar Harbor AirportBoston (BOS)Hyannis Air Service d.b.a. Cape AirCessna 402C / 9 or Tecnam P2012 Traveller / 9$4,268,633 $4,396,693 $4,528,593 $4,664,452 2011-01852024-09-06MEPresque IslePresque Isle International AirportBoston (BOS)JetBlueAirbus A220-300 / 140$8,700,000 $8,700,000 2000-80122026-07-23MERocklandKnox County Regional AirportBoston (BOS)Hyannis Air Service d.b.a. Cape AirTecnam P2012 Traveller / 9$3,303,476 $3,567,755 $3,853,175 $4,161,429 1997-27842022-09-19MIAlpenaAlpena County Regional AirportDetroit (DTW)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50 or Bombardier CRJ700 / 65/69 or Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$6,750,234 $7,222,751 $7,728,343 2009-03002024-5-14MIEscanabaDelta County AirportDetroit (DTW) Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50$5,361,460 $5,522,304 2003-151282026-01-09MIHancock / HoughtonHoughton County Memorial AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)SkyWest Airlines (as United Express)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50$6,513,688 $6,969,646 $7,457,521 2009-03022024-12-09MIIron Mountain / KingsfordFord AirportDetroit (DTW) Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50$5,015,812 $5,166,286 $5,321,275 $5,480,913 1999-51752026-01-15MIIronwood, MI / Ashland, WIGogebic–Iron County AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD) Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionDornier 328JET / 30 or Embraer ERJ-145 / 50$7,204,867 $7,709,208 $7,709,208 $7,709,208 1996-12662023-06-18MIMuskegonMuskegon County AirportChicago-O'Hare (ORD)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionDornier 328JET / 30 or Embraer ERJ-145 / 50$6,805,487 $7,281,872 $7,791,603 $8,337,015 2009-03012022-08-25MIPellstonPellston Regional AirportDetroit (DTW)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ200 / 50 Bombardier CRJ550 / 50 Bombardier CRJ700 / 65/69 Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$4,219,848 $4,430,840 $4,652,382 $4,885,001 2011-01332024-12-07MISault Ste. MarieChippewa County International AirportDetroit (DTW) Minneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50$4,984,855 $5,134,401 $5,288,433 $5,447,086 2009-03032026-01-15MNBemidjiBemidji Regional AirportMinneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50 or Bombardier CRJ700 / 65/69 or Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$4,227,249 $4,438,611 $4,660,542 $4,893,569 2011-01342025-01-08MNBrainerdBrainerd Lakes Regional AirportMinneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50$5,055,895 $5,207,571 $5,363,799 $5,524,713 2011-01352026-01-15MNChisholm / HibbingRange Regional AirportMinneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50 or Bombardier CRJ700 / 65/69 or Bombardier CRJ900 / 76$6,992,582 $7,482,063 $8,005,808 2003-157962024-05-13MNInternational FallsFalls International AirportMinneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)SkyWest Airlines (as Delta Connection)Bombardier CRJ550 / 50$5,652,073 $5,821,635 $5,996,284 $6,176,173 2009-03042026-01-15MNThief River FallsThief River Falls Regional AirportMinneapolis/Saint Paul (MSP)Key Lime Air d.b.a. Denver Air ConnectionDornier 328JET / 30 or Embraer ERJ-145 / 50$5,801,556 $5,975,603 $6,154,871 $6,339,517 $6,529,702 2001-106422022-02-21MOCape Girardeau / SikestonCape Girardeau Regional AirportCharlotte (CLT)