Support airline service in small towns

More money in Obama's proposed budget for rural airports

Updated: Friday, April 17th, 2009 | By Robert Farley

The proposed 2010 budget released by the Obama administration in February calls for a $55 million increase over 2009 spending for air service in small communities.

According to the budget proposal, "the administration is committed to maintaining small communities’ access to the National Airspace System." The additional funding is needed to fulfill current demand for subsidized commercial air service increases, the budget plan states.
 
There's a big caveat, though.

"The program that delivers this subsidy is not efficiently designed," the budget says. "Through the budget process, the administration intends to work with the Congress to develop a more sustainable program model that will fulfill its commitment while enhancing convenience for travelers and improving cost effectiveness."

According to a spokesman in the Department of Transportation, since Obama took office, the DOT has issued new Essential Air Service contracts for 10 small communities, valued in excess of $10 million per year.

The administration's budget proposal is just that; and it is still very early in the budget process. But so far, Obama has stayed true to his word to support airline service in small towns. And that's enough to move this to In the Works.

Sources: Office of Budget and Management, Budget Documents for Fiscal Year 2010 , Feb. 26, 2009