A small Colorado airport had a half-empty departure board on a recent weekday. A few weeks prior, the 10:45 a.m. flight to Denver had quietly disappeared. Permanently retired rather than canceled due to weather or maintenance. This shift, which is becoming more and more common, is part of a larger trend that is changing rural America’s access to air.
Despite federal assistance, many rural routes are closing due to a combination of staffing issues, budget pressure, and changing airline priorities. Although the Essential Air Service (EAS) program is still in place, its efficacy is being challenged. EAS was created to ensure connectivity for small towns.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pilot Availability | Critically low; training bottlenecks and retirements remain ongoing |
| Route Economics | Regional flights often operate at a financial loss even with subsidies |
| Federal EAS Program | Supports small airports; now under pressure due to low usage rates |
| Passenger Behavior | More rural passengers opting to drive to major hubs |
| Post-COVID Impact | Infrastructure scaled back; traffic slow to recover |
| Airline Strategy | Prioritizing high-revenue routes; cutting low-demand connections |
| Staffing Gaps | Persistent shortages in air traffic control and ground operations |
| Long-Term Outlook | Viability of rural routes questioned; creative solutions under review |
EAS subsidies are intended to help offset losses on routes that carriers might otherwise give up. However, as load factors decrease, those subsidies are now coming under increasing scrutiny. A small number of passengers—sometimes fewer than five—are frequently carried on flights that operate under EAS. Even with assistance, airlines are no longer willing to bear those losses, especially in light of the pressure to be more cost-effective after COVID.
The lack of pilots in the industry as a whole adds complexity. This problem was already urgent by 2023, and it’s worse now. While new pilot pipelines continue to be limited by training costs and hour requirements, retirements are increasing. Because they are thought to be low-revenue and challenging to staff, regional flights are often the first to be eliminated.
“It’s not that people don’t want to fly—it’s that we can’t guarantee a flight will show up next week,” a ticket agent told me during a recent trip to an airport in upstate New York. Her candor was both welcome and a little unnerving. With fewer options, travelers are adjusting, frequently by driving.
The closest major airport is only two or three hours away from many small towns. Even though it’s a little inconvenient, that drive can be much less expensive. Regional travelers have remarkably similar motivations for choosing lower fares, more departure options, and shorter security lines: they want reliability and value.
Since the pandemic, not much has changed in the situation. It has actually gotten significantly worse. Rural airports experienced staff layoffs, terminal closures, and postponed expansion plans in 2020 and 2021. Recovery was uneven in 2022 and 2023 when traffic returned. Rural airports did not recover as quickly as major hubs.
Many of these smaller airports are now caught in a vicious cycle where low demand results in fewer routes, which further suppresses demand, because they have neglected to rebuild infrastructure and reinvest in services. In response, airlines reroute planes to longer routes that offer healthier margins and fuller cabins.
Even though it is still funded, the EAS program might not be sufficient. Critics contend that it is unsustainable to keep subsidizing nearly empty aircraft. Others, including numerous local officials, contend that even limited air service is essential for connecting communities to commerce, higher education, and medical care. There is still a conflict between social value and cost-effectiveness.
Some towns are experimenting with new models by incorporating creative solutions, such as scheduled air taxi services, public-private partnerships, or smaller aircraft. However, adoption is still uneven. In the absence of more robust assurances of profitability, carriers are hesitant to modify established systems.
Interestingly, airport staffing is still a challenge. A number of air traffic control facilities were only partially operational during the most recent government shutdown. Some workers claimed to have missed rent or taken second jobs. These workforce issues, which are frequently disregarded, put additional strain on already delicate operations.
There is reason for cautious optimism in spite of these obstacles. To increase usage, some regional airports are experimenting with co-branded services with rail operators, digital booking platforms, and community engagement tactics. Others are advocating for updated subsidy formulas that prioritize economic results over efficiency per seat.
However, for the time being, the trend is clear: airlines are abandoning unprofitable rural routes. Small-town America’s options are becoming more limited, whether due to necessity or strategy. However, the need for fair access to air travel is still urgent and extremely pertinent.
There is a way forward with careful reform, more flexibility, and a renewed emphasis on the benefits of regional air service rather than just its costs. Even though it might not resemble the system that has been in place for decades, it could still accomplish the same crucial goal of bringing together communities that are determined not to fall behind.
