RAP Calls Rockefeller on EAS Statements

After the Department of Transportation eliminated the eligibility for Bluefield, W. Va. from the Essential Air Service Program, Senator Jay Rockefeller, in a meeting with the Bluefield Daily Editorial Board, was highly pessimistic about any return of commercial air service at the community and said he could...

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After the Department of Transportation eliminated the eligibility for Bluefield, W. Va. from the Essential Air Service Program, Senator Jay Rockefeller, in a meeting with the Bluefield Daily Editorial Board, was highly pessimistic about any return of commercial air service at the community and said he could do little to change the situation, according to Regional Aviation Partners (RAP), which called the statement untrue.
“The Senator’s statement that he lacks the ability to help Bluefield regain its air service is not accurate,” said RAP in its latest briefing. “As Chairman of the powerful Senate Aviation Subcommittee, the Senator is in the driver’s seat to make changes to the program reflecting the realities of providing air service to small, rural communities today.” RAP also said he could see that the Rural Aviation Improvement Act is including in the 2007 FAA Reauthorization Act as well as support increasing the $200-per-passenger cap to more realistically reflect operating costs in a high fuel environment.
Rockefeller’s statements may have signaled senate intentions to further curtail the program when he told the newspaper, “Any airport within 200 miles of a major hub won’t be subsidized in the future,” according to RAP.” The organization has reported that Congress was losing interest in the 30-year-old program. DOT dropped Bluefield’s subsidy for exceeding the $200 per-passenger subsidy limit but Bluefield remains eligible since Congress is the only entity that can eliminate EAS points permanently.
RAP questioned Rockefeller’s statements that he has supported the community. “RAP is unsure exactly what the Senator meant when he said he went to bat for the community the last time it was up for bid,” said the organization. “Our research shows the community’s eligibility was not in question during the bid process and since the process is administered by the DOT, the Senator’s assistance would not have been necessary to preserve air service to the community.
“While Bluefield’s O&D passenger levels have been consistent for the past six years, air carrier operating costs increased substantially during this time, making it necessary for carriers to request higher per passenger subsidy rates,” RAP pointed out. “The fact remains – Bluefield lost air service because of the $200 per passenger subsidy cap. Thus, while the community’s passenger levels were able to support air service in the past when carrier operating costs were much lower, similar passenger levels did not keep the community’s per passenger rate below $200 when jet fuel and other operating costs increased dramatically in recent years.”