The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has found that 27 communities have not met the criteria for eligibility for subsidised Essential Air Service (EAS) in fiscal year 2016. The requirements relate to the numbers of passengers transported or to the subsidised cost per passenger. Accordingly, the DOT has tentatively removed 19 of those communities from eligibility.

The communities which failed to meet the DOT requirements are:

Under the terms of the DOT's EAS program, communities need to enplane an average of ten or more passengers per day at a required subsidy per passenger of USD200 or less. The communities now have twenty days to file objections or petitions for waivers before the DOT's decision becomes final.

Of the cities listed, the DOT recognises that eight experienced hardship during the year as they suffered an abrupt disruption of service. SeaPort Airlines (Portland International) ceased operating at Muscle Shoals, El Centro, Salina, Tupelo and Pendleton; SkyWest Airlines (OO, Salt Lake City) ceased at Pueblo and Vernal; and Macon had no service at all. For this reason, the DOT has granted a waiver to the subsidy cap requirement for these communities.

The amount by which each community exceeded its subsidy cap varies greatly. For example, at Kearney, the subsidy came in just over the limit at USD213 per passenger. However, at Jamestown that figure is USD656 per passenger, and at Altoona a whopping USD734 per passenger.

Carriers operating at the affected airports are: Boutique Air, Great Lakes Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, Contour Airlines, Air Choice One, Allegiant Air, Cape Air, Southern Airways Express, Public Charters and ViaAir.