SENATORS COLLINS, SNOWE WORK TO ELIMINATE COST-SHARING BURDEN ON SMALL AND RURAL AIRPORTS

                  Senators Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe are working to eliminate a federal cost-sharing requirement that places a significant financial burden on small and rural airports in Maine and across the country.  The Augusta State Airport, Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, Knox County Airport in Rockland, and Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle receive federal subsidies from the Essential Air Service Program (EAS).   Under current law, communities within 100 miles of a hub airport are required to pay a 10% share in order to retain their commercial air service.  Legislation introduced today by Senator Snowe and cosponsored by Senator Collins would permanently eliminate this cost-sharing provision.               “The EAS Program is critical in states like Maine where many small, remote communities would not have access to scheduled air service without federal support.  Service to these communities is essential to economic development throughout the state,” said the Senators in a joint statement.  “But the cost-sharing provision puts an onerous financial burden on the small and rural airports that can least afford to pay to maintain regular service.  Our legislation would ensure that these communities would not have to choose between maintaining air service and receiving the federal support on which they rely.”   Last year, Senators Collins and Snowe were part of a bi-partisan coalition of Senators that successfully reversed proposed cuts to EAS and gave the program $110 million.  EAS was established when Congress deregulated commercial aviation in 1978 in order to preserve air service to small communities.   ###