Representatives from 29 regional airports, including Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, were on a call Friday with U.S Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Annie Petsonk and other Department of Transportation representatives Friday to discuss the airports’ next steps after SkyWest Airlines notified the airports of its intent to terminate Essential Air Service at these airports.
Dennis Rouleau, Barkley Regional executive director, said the impacted airports were informed Wednesday of SkyWest’s intention to file a 90-day notice of termination with the Department of Transportation for nearly 30 regional airports. Rouleau said this decision was because of a pilot shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising fuel costs.
During Friday’s call, Rouleau told The Sun that the Department of Transportation intends for SkyWest to continue providing Essential Air Services to the 29 impacted airports for at least the next 90 days.
“What I guess [the Department of Transportation plans] to do is hold SkyWest’s feet to the fire in their contract, and then try to find, you know, replacement airlines,” Rouleau told The Sun.
While searching for a new Essential Air Service provider, the Department of Transportation could require SkyWest to continue providing flights out of Barkley and other impacted airports beyond the 90-day notice term.
Rouleau said on Friday that each airport would have its own bid to locate Essential Airline Service providers.
Under U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines, Paducah is considered an Essential Air Services-eligible community, meaning that the Department of Transportation is mandated to provide Paducah with access to the National Air Transportation System, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation website. Barkley Regional Airport is one of two airports in Kentucky that is part of the Essential Air Services program, the other being the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.
Through the Essential Air Services (EAS) program, the Department of Transportation provides subsidies for airlines that fly out of EAS communities. The maximum subsidy an airline can receive for EAS flights is $200 per passenger. Rouleau told The Sun on Friday that the subsidy per passenger flying out of Barkley in 2014 was $49.
At Thursday’s special-called Barkley Regional Airport Authority board meeting, Paducah Mayor George Bray said this was one of the lowest subsidies among EAS airports and said this was because there is more demand for flights in the area than in other EAS communities.
Bray was the chairman of the Barkley Regional Airport Authority board prior to being elected mayor of Paducah and said he has been involved with the airport for eight years.
The mayor echoed Rouleau’s statement about the Department of Transportation making sure SkyWest would follow through with providing service for 90 days and possibly beyond. Bray also said the Department of Transportation was “surprised” and “not happy” with how the SkyWest situation has evolved.
Bray told The Sun on Friday that the city and county have “a lot of skin in the game” with the two entities being responsible for the airport. The federal and state governments are also invested in the success of Barkley, Bray said, with over $30 million in federal funds and $5 million in state funds going toward the new terminal project along with Paducah and McCracken County each contributing $3 million apiece to the project.
“There are a lot of players here that have skin in the game, and the announcement yesterday was certainly a surprise,” Bray said.
U.S. Rep. James Comer said in a statement to The Sun that his office is working with federal partners to help Paducah expand its aviation services.
“While this news is disappointing, it is…
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