The Chautauqua County Airport, just north of Jamestown. (Image via Google)
WASHINGTON – The Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown will continue to receive a federal subsidy that helps it to provide passenger service to local residents and businesses.
On Monday, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has ruled that the Jamestown Airport will remain eligible for roughly $1.9 million in Essential Air Service (EAS) funding this year. This funding was at risk of lapsing because the airport was slightly short of the minimum number of passengers per day usually required to receive the funding.
In January, Schumer visited Jamestown to push for continued EAS funding and urged DOT to make an exception for Jamestown.
According to the senator, Monday’s announcement has led several regional airlines to submit proposals for continued air service at Jamestown.
Earlier this year, Silver Airlines – a subsidy of United Airlines – announced that they would be ending their passenger service in and out of Jamestown. Since then, local, state and federal officials have been working to find another air service provider to make up for the loss of Silver Airlines – which is expected to pull out of the county later this spring.
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