WASHINGTON D.C. — Members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act to reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On July 18, the House voted not to include an amendment that would have eliminated funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. That service provides subsidies to airlines including Denver Air Connection that provide flights to rural communities such as Alamosa.
On July 20, the U.S. House overwhelmingly voted 351 to 69 to reauthorize the full legislation and provide funding to the FAA and Essential Air Service for the next five years.
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-3-CO) voted against the amendment to eliminate EAS, and voted yea to reauthorize FAA funding.
The Senate Commerce Committee will now consider its version of the bill and then resolve any differences with the House approved legislation.
The Essential Air Service program began in 1978 to ensure service to smaller airports after the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act was passed.
Last year, Denver Air Connection received a $5.2 million EAS subsidy to provide service into Alamosa with 12 flights weekly between the Valley and Denver. That two-year contract runs through June 2024.
Without the Essential Air Service program, the closest commercial airport that does not have EAS subsidies (Pueblo has EAS) from the Valley is Colorado Springs, about 160 miles away.
In other San Luis Valley Airport news, the airport is moving forward with plans to eliminate free parking and charge between $6-$8 daily.
At the July 13 meeting of the airport advisory board, it was revealed that the airport did not meet the annual criteria of 10,000 passengers, an important threshold to receive $1 million in federal funding annually. In a review of passenger data at the airport received by the Valley Courier through June of this year, it appears unlikely the airport will make the 10,000-passenger cut again.
Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, an airport with over 10,000 annual passenger enplanements is considered a Primary Commercial Service Airport and eligible to receive the $1 million in funding. Airports with fewer passengers are considered nonprimary and can receive $600,000 in funding.
The airport, owned by both Alamosa County and the City of Alamosa, received notice in June from the FAA, that it is subject to a $1.2 million civil penalty for non-compliance issues dating back to 2020 and 2021. The county is in discussions with the FAA regarding that penalty.
