NEWS Feb 12, 2026 US Department of Transportation Opens Competitive Bidding for Vital Rural Air Links in Maine Colorado and Alaska In a move to safeguard the "economic lifelines" of America’s most remote regions, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has officially opened the bidding process for new Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Mar 04, 2024 How Does Essential Air Service Benefit Small and Isolated Communities? The Essential Air Service program was implemented to guarantee that small communities served by certified air carriers before airline deregulation maintained a minimal level of scheduled air service. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL May 18, 2023 Essential Air Service Contracts (EAS) Explained How are EAS contracts awarded? The system is complex and requires many moving parts, but ultimately the DOT uses a well-structured bid process to select the ideal airline. Read More →

ROUTES Nov 08, 2021 United Airlines Drops Three Cities From Route Network United Airlines and regional partner SkyWest Airlines will be dropping three cities in the coming months as a result of a change in subsidy allocation from the Department of Transportation. In the future, this could open up a strategic opportunity for the legacy carrier. Read More →