Grounding averted: South Dakota airports get lifeline amid federal shutdown
Airliner serving Pierre, Aberdeen & Watertown commits to operating while subsidies paused; Funding outlook for Essential Air Service extended
Rural airports in South Dakota that rely on federally subsidized air service are breathing a sigh of relief after SkyWest Airlines has vowed to continue flights through the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The Utah-based carrier that serves Aberdeen, Watertown and Pierre through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service program assured airport officials this week that passengers won’t see any disruption to flights or schedules despite the funding uncertainty on Capitol Hill.
“They’re devoted and they’re not going to disrupt flights,” Pierre Regional Airport Manager Casey Pamperien told The Dakota Scout Wednesday. “They will not let lack of funding affect flights or disrupt service.”
That good news came alongside another boost for the state’s rural aviation network. Federal officials have confirmed additional temporary funding to keep the Essential Air Service program afloat — even as Congress remains gridlocked over a spending plan to reopen the government.
Earlier in the week, the U.S. Department of Transportation alerted EAS airports that funding for the program — which subsidizes contracts with air carriers serving communities at least 70 miles from the nearest major airport — had paused due to the shutdown. The warning sparked concern that flight operations could be grounded if Congress failed to approve a new budget.
Funding for the EAS program comes from congressionally appropriated dollars and Federal Aviation Fees. With the former funding source lapsed, DOT officials said they do not have access to that portion of the program budget.
Initially, airports like Pierre’s were told that if Congress failed to pass a spending bill, EAS contracts would be dissolved or suspended beginning Oct. 13.
But on Wednesday, the department extended that deadline to Nov. 2, after securing an additional $41 million for the program, according to the Office of Aviation and International Affairs within the DOT.
“Air carriers that continue to operate EAS flights beyond (Nov. 2) would do so at their own risk as the Department may not be able to pay the contracted subsidy,” the DOT said in a “notice of funding lapse” distributed to EAS partners this week.
It’s not just EAS airports feeling the squeeze of the federal shutdown. While Sioux Falls Regional Airport operates without federal subsidy, Transportation Security Administration screeners and air traffic controllers reporting to the Joe Foss Field complex are currently working without pay.
And that could cause problems for airport operations should the shutdown drag on, said Dan Letellier, executive director of the Sioux Falls airport.
“As we see sick calls and other absences mount, we could certainly be impacted with flight delays,” he said.
Congressman Dusty Johnson, who has repeatedly called the shutdown “stupid,” praised the DOT for freeing up resources to sustain EAS operations through the impasse.
“Essential Air Service is just that — essential. I reached out to DOT this week to express my concerns and encourage support for EAS airports,” the Mitchell congressman said, also giving a nod to SkyWest for committing to maintain service in South Dakota during the shutdown. “I’m glad the DOT found funds to protect rural air service and connect the most rural Americans to the rest of the country.”
