WASHINGTON (AP) – The US Senate has agreed to impose new restrictions on small, often remote airports receiving federally subsidized airline service. The Senate voted Thursday in favor of a proposal by Senator Tom Coborn (R-Oaklahoma), to restrict the subsidies to airports that are 90 miles apart or more from another airport. Another proposal by Coburn to cancel air service subsidies for airports that average fewer than 10 passengers a day was agreed to without opposition. The 200 million dollar Essential Air Service Program or EAS has been singled out by conservative organizations as a test of lawmakers’ determination to shrink the government. The amendments were made part of a broader aviation bill.
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