Trump Budget Could Hit Small Wyoming Airports
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Laramie and Cody could lose air service under President Donald Trump's proposed budget.
Trump wants to eliminate the Essential Air Service program, which provides subsidies for commercial carriers to serve rural communities around the United States.
SkyWest Airlines currently receives $2.18 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve Laramie and $938,000 to serve Cody.
Officials with the Laramie and Cody airports say the subsidy is important for keeping small Wyoming cities accessible.
The subsidy program was created in 1978 after Congress deregulated the airline industry. It is intended to ensure airlines did not abandon smaller and less lucrative markets.
But, eliminating the subsidy has been tried before and meets stout resistance from representatives of both parties.
President's budgets are seldom accepted as is.