Published March 1987 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Keeping Essential Air Service in West Virginia The mass transportation mode-of-choice for most Americans is the airplane. Because of that, reasonable access to adequate air transportation is one of the plusses for which business and industry executives look when they consider locating plants and outlets in a state or community. No state can sustain major economic growth without good connections to America's air transportation network. Consequently, adequate air transportation is vital if West Virginia is to move ahead and develop economically. For that reason, I am co-sponsoring legislation to continue our nation's Essential Air Service program. That program was started in 1978 when airline deregulation ended air service to many small and moderate-sized communities. The program is scheduled to end next year. Under the Essential Air Service program, the federal Department of Transportation subsidizes basic air service to airports that cannot guarantee ridership adequate to attract air carriers without subsidies, and that are more than an hour's drive from a major "hub" airport, such as those at Washington, Pittsburgh, or Charlotte, North Carolina. Currently, five West Virginia air centers: Morgantown, Clarksburg/Fairmont, Elkins, Beckley, and Bluefield/Princeton receive airline service subsidized under the Essential Air Service program. A large percentage of West Virginia's population lives within a near radius of these five airports. In addition, some of West Virginia's major educational and financial institutions, research facilities, industries, and tourist attractions depend upon these airports for their success, service, and growth. Without the subsidies offered by the Essential Air Service program, maintaining commercial airline service into these airports would be difficult, if not impossible. Given the economic problems that West Virginia has endured in recent years, as well as the new economic opportunities on which enterprising West Virginians are working in several parts of our state, West Virginia cannot afford to lose current levels of airline service. The airline service legislation that I am cosponsoring will ensure that we have air service at several important West Virginia airports well into the future. West Virginians need safe, reliable airline service. Keeping and improving that air service will continue to be one of my top priorities. March 4, 1987