H.R. 4246: Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025
The Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025 aims to amend existing legislation concerning the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which provides federal funding for airlines to operate flights in rural and underserved areas. The key features of this bill are as follows:
Contingency Plans for Air Service
The bill requires airlines that apply for compensation to provide essential air services to include a contingency plan. This plan must outline how the airline intends to continue operating flights in case of disruptions that are not due to weather conditions. This requirement seeks to improve the reliability of air services in areas that depend on them for connectivity.
Amendments to Existing Code
The legislation proposes several modifications to Section 41733 of title 49 in the United States Code:
- It redesignates existing paragraphs for clarity.
- It changes the language regarding the application process, requiring all applicants under this section to include a contingency plan.
- In the selection process for applicants, considerations will now explicitly include the submitted contingency plans.
Implementation Timeline
Once enacted, the requirement for airlines to submit contingency plans will take effect within 180 days. The Secretary of Transportation will oversee the implementation of this requirement to ensure compliance across relevant airlines.
Conforming Amendments
Additionally, the bill makes conforming amendments to ensure consistency across the related sections of the U.S. Code regarding compensation rates under the EAS program.
Goals of the Bill
The overall objective of the bill is to enhance the reliability of air services in rural and underserved communities, thereby ensuring that these areas remain connected despite potential service interruptions.
Relevant Companies
- AAL (American Airlines Group Inc.) - Possible impacts due to increased operational requirements for EAS routes.
- UAL (United Airlines Holdings Inc.) - May need to revise service plans if they operate EAS routes in rural areas.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
5 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jun. 27, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Jun. 27, 2025 | Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. |
Corporate Lobbying
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