I am not a big fan of the EAS program in its current form. Like many things in DC it gets a bit political and takes money away from a very few, certain deserving routes, and throws money at many that are not. I'd rather the states and local governments come up with the monies and just gut the fed program.


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090714/D99DT3JO0.html

Some random blurbs:
"WASHINGTON (AP) - A much-criticized subsidy for rural air travel would get a budget increase of more than 40 percent under a spending bill unveiled in the House on Monday...

.....In many cases the flights are nearly empty. In other instances, such as flights between Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Jamestown, N.Y., just 76 miles away, it's quicker to drive than fly...

...The Bush administration sought unsuccessfully to cut the subsidies, which keeps flights going to 107 communities spread across 31 states in the continental U.S. and 45 tiny towns in Alaska. But the Essential Air Services program enjoys strong support among lawmakers; in April, 22 senators wrote White House budget director Peter Orszag to demand more money for it....."