The US Department of Transportation revealed that Essential Air Service (EAS) and Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) funding will lapse on October 12, 2025, due to the government shutdown.
Airlines operating EAS flights post-October 12, 2025, the American equivalent of SEO, risk non-payment, with claims paid pro rata based on available overflight fees.
Eleven US carriers, including SkyWest Airlines (€79.5m), Contour Airlines (€54.7m), and Southern Airways Express (€45.1m), receive €219.4m annually in EAS subsidies.
Contour Airlines and Advanced Air receive €34.9m yearly through AEAS contracts for flexible services.
Contour Airlines and SkyWest plan to maintain EAS flight schedules despite the funding uncertainty.
Matt Chaifetz shared: “Contour Airlines recognises the vital nature of the air service we have been entrusted to provide to rural America. Accordingly, Contour will continue to operate its full flight schedule during the federal government shutdown.”
SkyWest shared in a written statement: “We are working with each community and evaluating our capabilities in the event of a longer-term government shutdown. It is our intent to honour our service commitments, including those under the Federal EAS programme, who rely on SkyWest’s reliable air service as an essential economic lifeline.”
