The Essential Air Service Reliability Act requires airlines applying for federal compensation to serve small, remote airports to submit contingency plans ensuring they can continue service during disruptions unrelated to weather. This legislation amends the existing Essential Air Service program, which subsidizes air service to eligible rural and remote communities that would otherwise lack commercial flights. The bill affects airlines bidding for these federally-funded routes and the small communities that depend on them for connectivity. The Department of Transportation must implement these new contingency plan requirements within 180 days of the law's enactment, ensuring that communities have more reliable backup plans if an airline experiences operational disruptions like mechanical problems or staffing shortages.
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