"But in Alaska, where more than 80% of the state's communities aren't connected to the road system at all, EAS is a lifeline. In remote places like King Salmon, Unalakleet, or Cold Bay, the same bush planes that ferry residents to hub airports for work, travel, and medical appointments also deliver groceries, medicine, and mail to rural towns. "While the program is specifically for passenger air service, passenger flights routinely carry invaluable freight to and from communities,""
"That means an interruption in service wouldn't just inconvenience travelers-it would effectively isolate entire communities. As Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski said in a press release: "The critical assistance these routes provide makes a disruption on any scale detrimental to these communities, and the local air carriers serving them." Travelers with tickets booked through early November shouldn't see flight disruptions on subsidized routes."
EAS provides passenger flights that also carry groceries, medicine, mail, and other freight to more than 80% of Alaska communities that lack road connections, keeping remote towns connected. Service interruptions would effectively isolate residents and disrupt access to work, travel, and medical appointments. Airlines under EAS contracts have been instructed to continue service through early November, and several carriers are maintaining normal schedules. If Congress fails to secure funding by November 2, routes could again be at risk because carriers need advance commitments for planes, crews, and fuel. Even after a reopening, EAS might not survive in its current form despite recent appropriations.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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