WASHINGTON, D.C. – When the COVID pandemic hit, it took a huge toll on our regional airlines by reducing the amount of flights taking off each day. The reduced air service is not a unique issue to our area but it’s something other small and regional airlines across the US are dealing with, too. We brought this issue to the Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He shares with WZMQ exclusively what the DOT is doing to maintain reliable air service.
“Right now there’s a disconnect and a lot of airports can lose their service in a drop of a hat,” said Duane DuRay with the Sawyer International Airport.
After seeing other airlines pull out of airports as large as Toledo, DuRay is worried Sawyer could also face a similar fate. He is concerned now more than ever especially after the pandemic because airlines are going through a pilot shortage and equipment challenges.
“As the airlines started to recoil and reduce their flights, we were getting a lot of concerns not just for leisure travelers but for business travelers,” said DuRay.
The airport started seeing reduced service last year due to a pilot shortage. On top of all of this, Duray said the Sawyer airport is facing a unique challenge: they’re surrounded by other Upper Peninsula airports that are part of the Essential Air Service (EAS) federal program. It’s a program that guarantees small communities that are far away from a large or medium hub airport maintain a minimal level of air service by subsidizing round trips each day. Right now, Sawyer does not qualify for the program, meaning they have to compete with the other airports to keep air service at Sawyer.
“When we look at our purpose of providing air service connectivity, we’re not doing the public any favors by having fragmented airports all over the region providing minimal service with similar times and not really giving travelers what they need is a broader spectrum of flights with options of times and destinations,” said DuRay. “I’m not advocating for closing other airports, but I can say in good conscious our region does not necessarily need that many commercial airports.”
We brought these concerns to the Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. WZMQ asked Buttigieg what the DOT is doing to ensure small, regional airports maintain service.
“I’m concerned any time I see that an airline is withdrawing service,” said Buttigieg. “We’re making clear to airlines that we’re looking for them to provide more, not less, especially to these smaller communities. Raising the bar on customer service so that you don’t see the kind of cherry picking that leaves some customers or passengers behind.”
Buttigieg said the EAS program for small communities pays a dividend far beyond that just ticket sales.
“It really lifts a whole community’s economy up,” said Buttigieg.
Duray said they are bending over backwards to make sure airlines have no reason to leave Marquette.
“I’m not really confident the DOT really understands what’s at stake,” said DuRay.
DuRay hopes that Washington will recognize there is not enough air service frequency for Marquette and hopes that will change. Secretary Buttigieg said they are doing everything to make sure that all communities of all sizes have good, reliable service.
