Payments for Essential Air Services
Department Of Transportation, Office Of The Secretary
The program provides subsidies to air carriers to serve eligible communities as designated by Congress .
Jargon-free version
Helps small communities maintain air service by paying airlines to operate flights. The program covers costs that exceed expected ticket revenue.
Quick Facts
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What Is This Program?
What Benefits Are Offered?
Subsidies and compensation (via contracts) to air carriers for providing essential scheduled air service to communities that would otherwise not receive it, ensuring access to the National Air Transportation System. Grants are also available to communities through the Alternate EAS (AEAS) program to manage their own air service.
Who Is Eligible?
Industries: aviation, air transportation
Region: United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, 48 contiguous states
Other Criteria: Must be an air carrier holding scheduled authority (certificated air carriers, commuter air carriers, public charter services, air taxis), Able to provide essential air service to eligible communities (e.g., two round trips daily with 30-50 seat aircraft, or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft, usually to a large- or medium-hub airport), For Alternate EAS (AEAS) program: communities may receive grants to manage their own air service., Community eligibility criteria (for communities to receive service): had essential air service eligibility before Oct 1, 1988 OR received scheduled air transportation after Jan 1, 1990 OR determined eligible between Oct 1, 1988 and enactment of Public Law 114-190. Specific criteria for Alaska/Hawaii and communities that received service between Sept 30, 2010 and Sept 30, 2011., To remain eligible, communities must maintain an average of 10 enplanements per service day (waivable for temporary decline in demand; exemption if >175 driving miles from a large/medium hub airport)., To remain eligible, communities less than 175 miles from a large/medium hub must have an average subsidy per passenger less than $650 (does not apply to AK/HI)., To remain eligible, communities not less than 175 miles from a large/medium hub (except AK/HI) must have an average subsidy per passenger less than $1,000 (reduced to $850 effective Oct 1, 2026).
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📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?
- 📝Steps to Apply
- Communities must comply with EAS eligibility requirements.
- Air carriers submit service and subsidy proposals in response to the Department’s RFPs via email.
- Department solicits views of communities on preferred air carrier proposals.
- Department considers various factors for carrier selection and issues an order designating the selected air carrier.
- 🌐Application Portal
- http://www.regulations.gov
- 📤Submission Method
- 🔄Intake Type
- rolling
📄What Documents Are Required?
- ✅Required Documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A (Budget Information - Non-Construction)
- SF-424B (Assurances)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Narrative
- indirect cost rate agreement
- 📐Format Requirements
- PDF only, max 10MB
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💰What Expenses Are Eligible?
- 🧾Eligible Expenses
- subsidizing two round trips a day
- additional frequencies with smaller aircraft
- 🚫Ineligible Expenses
- flights not operated in conformance with the contract
- flights canceled without pushback from the gate due to inclement weather
- 📏Expense Caps
- $200 Per Passenger Subsidy Cap
- 💳Payment Model
- reimbursement
- ⏪Retroactive Expenses Eligible
- No
🤝Is Matching Funding Required?
- 🔀Matching Required
- Yes
- 📊Matching Ratio
- 25% minimum
- 🏦Eligible Matching Sources
- cash
- in-kind contributions
- 📚Stacking Rules
- Cumulative government assistance is allowed
- 🛡️Proof of Matching Required
- Documentation of cash and in-kind contributions
📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?
- 🗓️Reporting Frequency
- monthly
- 📑Reporting Requirements
- claims for the prior month based on the number of flights completed
- invoices requesting a subsidy amount
- 🔍Audit Requirements
- OMB Uniform Guidance Single Audit if the recipient expends $750,000 or more in federal awards
- 📢Branding Requirements
- Federal acknowledgment of funding required
- 🗄️Record Retention Period
- 3 years post-final-report
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FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Visit the program page for detailed eligibility requirements.
This program offers funding up to $800,000,000 (minimum $1).
This program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
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