Somewhat related to the Allegiant and Topeka topics. The EAS program as it is currently implemented is wasteful. The criteria for inclusion are far too generous and do not adequately account for cases where there are unsubsidized airports available that can be hurt by siphoning travelers.
EAS should be limited to airports where there is no unsubsidized airport reasonably accessible. Instead EAS is used as pork that legislators distribute to their districts for vanity projects that don’t attract significant passenger volumes, and siphon off travelers from unsubsidized airports. From: Enilria <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 6:22 AM Subject: EAS Program Not Cut, Instead Expanded The Administration proposed a 60% cut to the money sieve known as the Essential Air Service (EAS) program about a year ago. The program provides gove... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ EAS Program Not Cut, Instead Expanded<https://www.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/campaign/5002093/25e2eee2646046ab9d6832c0d23a64df/eyJoIjo3NSwidyI6NzV9/1.jpg?token-hash=FeFP2cwW46HNB7RBARC7I40hi8HmNBy_MuZqaRjiuHk%3D]<https://www.patreon.com/Enilria?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=creator_link&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> Enilria<https://www.patreon.com/Enilria?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=creator_link&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> Feb 4, 2026 [like]<https://www.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> [comment]<https://www.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> [share]<https://www.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> View in app<https://open.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/149922085/78eff511727d43bb979a031a041ea17a/eyJhIjoxLCJ3Ijo4MjB9/1.png?token-hash=kPb-GS8TDJkuNA8HQCbwD9Fztxtw_7aZIC2N-iVXszo%3D&token-time=1771459200] The Administration proposed a 60% cut to the money sieve known as the Essential Air Service (EAS) program about a year ago. The program provides government subsidies for small airports to have minimal air service. In December, a General Accounting Office (GAO) study on the program commissioned by Congress with the hope of justifying an expansion of the program<https://www.patreon.com/posts/gao-study-says-146994989?utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email>, largely instead further questioned the program. The study said in many cases the EAS destabilized markets that did not need subsides by fragmenting traffic to overly nearby alternates subsidized with government money. ...market distortions created by EAS subsidies can affect the ability of non-EAS nonhub airports to secure and maintain air service. In some instances, the non-EAS communities that lost air service believed they would have been able to keep it had there been no EAS airports nearby... Regardless, Congress in their vote to avoid a second prolonged government shutdown has approved the EAS budget...and expanded it. The budget grows to $514 million, and by multiples of inflation with a 15% jump despite lower fuel prices theoretically lowering costs. Classic government... [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/149922085/d4a64562edd34807b295673b004d61a6/eyJhIjoxLCJ3Ijo4MjB9/1.png?token-hash=u3JrX8QmVir-9DAhy579Undw6vtUDBDmG4i8g8f6nkc%3D&token-time=1771459200] [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/149922085/cedc1a98934f4545ac7d253558c7ae1c/eyJhIjoxLCJ3Ijo4MjB9/1.png?token-hash=SqboxmMYAf24qqtpoptN9V12p1V2bEYVqNrTAc7TnAE%3D&token-time=1771459200] [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/campaign/5002093/25e2eee2646046ab9d6832c0d23a64df/eyJoIjoxMjAsInciOjEyMH0%3D/1.jpg?token-hash=Swu5Kh_KPiwIRMJF3ZCTmjA802yWPwlU_M-c4HV6HsU%3D] Did you like this post? Share this post with someone who might enjoy it. Share<https://www.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> © 2025 Enilria Privacy policy<https://privacy.patreon.com/policies?utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> | Terms of use<https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal?utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> 600 Townsend Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Email was sent to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Unsubscribe<https://www.patreon.com/email-unsubscribe?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.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.8-XdR5tEF-RlPJp1e4Agg5vmYLo4hetmnLdUWLgrj64&utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=unsubscribe&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> | Manage your email settings<https://www.patreon.com/settings/email/Enilria?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=manage_email_settings&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> Download the app - Google Play<https://open.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email> | App Store<https://open.patreon.com/posts/eas-program-not-149922085?utm_campaign=patron_engagement&utm_source=post_link&post_id=149922085&utm_id=85399c19-0f4c-4dbc-82c8-e23a878f501c&utm_medium=email>
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