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Essential Air Service: a local, geographic market perspective

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  • Grubesic, Tony H.
  • Wei, Fangwu

Abstract

Essential Air Service (EAS) is a federally subsidized program in the United States that provides air transport connections to rural and remote locations. Critics suggest that EAS is too expensive and that many of its airports are underutilized. Proponents of the program argue that connections between rural locales and larger urban hubs help maintain local economic activity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the variations in local geographic markets and their impacts on service levels. Specifically, we use exploratory and confirmatory statistical approaches combined with spatial analysis to examine the geographic, demographic, socio-economic and local business determinants that contribute to commercial flight activity from EAS airports. Results suggest that geographic proximity to larger hubs, subsidy levels and the local population of the EAS catchment area are critical factors in flight activity at EAS airports.

Suggested Citation

  • Grubesic, Tony H. & Wei, Fangwu, 2013. "Essential Air Service: a local, geographic market perspective," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 17-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:30:y:2013:i:c:p:17-25
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.02.008
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    Cited by:

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    5. Grubesic, Tony H. & Murray, Alan T. & Matisziw, Timothy C., 2013. "A strategic approach for improving rural air transport in the United States," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 117-124.
    6. Fuellhart, Kurt & Dai, Liang & Grubesic, Tony & Derudder, Ben, 2021. "The U.S. Essential Air Service Program and SARS C0V-2, 2019–2020," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    7. Gillen, David & Hazledine, Tim, 2015. "The economics and geography of regional airline services in six countries," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 129-136.
    8. Fangwu Wei & Tony H. Grubesic, 2015. "A Typology of Rural Airports in the United States: Evaluating Network Accessibility," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 45(1), pages 57-85, Spring.
    9. Salesi, Vinolia Kilinaivoni & Kan Tsui, Wai Hong & Fu, Xiaowen & Gilbey, Andrew, 2022. "Stakeholder perceptions of the impacts of aviation subsidies in the South Pacific Region," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Wei, Fangwu & Grubesic, Tony H., 2016. "The pain persists: Exploring the spatiotemporal trends in air fares and itinerary pricing in the United States, 2002–2013," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 107-121.

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