TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - Tupelo Regional Airport officials will ask for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which on Friday ordered the temporary termination of the Essential Air Service program at 30 communities across the country, including Tupelo.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports (https://bit.ly/1OTHWUM) Tupelo has relied on the EAS program for air service since 2012. If the waiver isn’t granted, air service would end.
Airport Executive Director Cliff Nash said the letter of termination was expected, and he expects a waiver to be granted.
The communities getting the notice either did not meet the requirement of 10 passengers a day or went above the subsidy cap of $200 per passenger.
The department said SeaPort Airlines exceeded the subsidy cap by $111 per passenger in Tupelo.
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Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, https://djournal.com
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