RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) — A Trump budget cutback would eliminate major airport access from the Northwoods.
The Essential Air Service program was put into place to guarantee that small communities served before airline deregulation would maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service. Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport is one of those facilities.
Rhinelander Director Joe Brauer says the program is paid for by user fees, not tax dollars.
“Foreign carriers that fly over the United States pay a fee to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The main funding comes from the Aviation Trust Fund. Which is money that goes in there from the ticket tax and other fee that the aviation world pays into this Trust Fund,” said Brauer.
“The message out there is don’t do this to rural America. We’re the ones that voted you guys in and now you’re going to be taking things away from us? It doesn’t make sense as far as economically, it could really hurt small town, rural America.”
Brauer says there are 173 airports under the Essential Air Service, including Puerto Rico. Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines is serving Rhinelander with jet service via Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport with two round trips a day.
