Bill To Enhance Air Service In Rural Communities
As part of his continued efforts to lower costs for Montanans and expand access to reliable air service for rural communities, U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) have introduced their bipartisan Small Community Air Service Enhancement Act to increase flight options for travelers in rural America.
“Expanding reliable air service is essential for Montana so we can lower flight costs, create jobs, and keep families connected across our state,” said Tester. “That’s why I’m teaming up with Sen. Moran to reauthorize the Small Community Air Service Development Program, which helps our rural airports offer more flights and will support travel and commerce in Montana for years to come.”
“Every flight counts in small communities with limited access to air travel, where each flight can have a significant impact on drawing new businesses and families to a region,” Moran said. “Strengthening the Small Community Air Service Development Program will help small airports attract commercial flights increasing connectivity across the state of Kansas.”
“We greatly appreciate Sen. Tester championing this bill to help expand the Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program,”said Helena Regional Airport director Jeff Wadekamper. “Airports have limited tools available to mitigate the financial risks an airline incurs when adding new service to a community, which makes this program a very important component of air service recruitment and development.”
Tester has led the charge to upgrade Montana’s airport infrastructure. This past year, he secured approximately $144 million for 69 Montana airports through his bipartisan infrastructure law, which will be awarded over five years through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grants, which can be used to construct or repair runways and taxiways as well as make terminal and gate improvements.
Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate the IIJA with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.
