Air Service Was Deeply Cut, but Not to Places Like Lake Placid

As commercial air travel plummeted in recent months amid pandemic lockdowns and closings, the few people who did venture forth faced delays, cancellations and confusing social distancing messages.

But some travelers have had far fewer disruptions. They were flying on regional carriers to small airports in far-flung places like the Alaskan fishing village Cordova and tourist destinations like Bar Harbor, Me., and Greenbrier, W.Va.

Those communities are among about 170 nationwide that qualify for subsidies and service through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s essential air service.

The pandemic has been especially cruel to the airline industry. The major commercial carriers started cutting service in mid-March in the face of a steep decline in bookings — curtailing their level of service by as much as 90 percent at one point. But essential air service communities didn’t begin to see cuts until late April, when the Department of Transportation said service could be reduced by as much as 50 percent as long as carriers maintain one flight a day, six days a week. Even then, some communities didn’t see that much of a drop.

The program’s roots go back to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which eliminated government control of fares and routes. It led to lower airfares and more frequent flights from larger airports, but some rural areas were left out because carriers deemed it too expensive to provide service to them. “Communities became scared and said, ‘We can’t be left without air service,’” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group in San Francisco. “‘Our towns will die and people will suffer.’”

Essential air service bridged that urban-rural divide, currently providing federal subsidies of $200 per passenger or less to regional airlines to continue service in the continental United States.

Eligible communities must be more than 70 miles from the nearest large or medium-size hub airport and guarantee 10 or more passengers each day, usually to those hubs. In addition, carriers participating in the program agree to provide at least two round trips a day. Their planes are small, ranging from nine-seat turboprop planes to 50-seat jets.

Latest Updates: Economy

Updated 2020-06-12T10:47:24.488Z Global markets show signs of life after Wall Street’s plunge. Britain’s economic output fell by one-fifth in April, a record amount. Twitter removes fake accounts that discussed China’s response to the virus. See more updates More live coverage: Global

The Federal Aviation Administration finances the program with fees from foreign aircraft that fly over but do not land in the United States and by collecting excise taxes on passengers, cargo and fuel. In a recent study, the Government Accountability Office found the number of the number of places getting the aid has remained constant over the last decade, while spending increased to $277 million in the fiscal year 2018 from $161 million in fiscal year 2010, partly because of increased labor costs.

The transportation department solicits bids from carriers to provide subsidized service from a specific airport in an eligible community; contracts are renewed every two to five years, depending on location. But a contract doesn’t guarantee a carrier profit. “Bidding on a contract in lieu of having an aircraft sit idle may prove to be a better financial decision for the carrier,” said William S. Swelbar, a research engineer at the International Center for Air Transportation at MIT.

One area generally maintaining its flight schedule is the Adirondacks-Saranac Lake-Lake Placid area.

Robert Curry lives in Saranac Lake year-round and until May 1, when he went on a sabbatical, directed clinical operations at a biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge, Mass. Before his employer limited travel because of the pandemic, he commuted to Boston on a subsidized Hyannis Air Service plane operating as Cape Air each month. The flight takes about 75 minutes; the drive, more than five hours.

Cape Air provides essential air service from Adirondack Regional Airport, which is 10 minutes from his house, and he can quickly clear the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint and board.

The plane seats nine. Mr. Curry paid less than $250 round trip, reimbursed by his company, and said he was sometimes the only passenger.

The flights make it possible for Mr. Curry to maintain his quality of life. He said other local residents use the flights to receive medical care at Boston-area hospitals.

Each contract renewal is competitive. Two years ago, five carriers challenged U.S. Peninsula Airways operating as PenAir to fly from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York, a former Air Force base developed as a secondary airport to Montreal, one hour north. PenAir’s service to Boston was scrapped, and SkyWest Airlines, branded as United Express, was awarded a contract to fly 50-passenger jets to Dulles International Airport outside Washington D.C., a route with more extensive connections.

The Coronavirus Outbreak

Frequently Asked Questions and Advice

Updated June 12, 2020

Does asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 happen?

So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.

What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface?

Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.

How does blood type influence coronavirus?

A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.

How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.?

The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.

Will protests set off a second viral wave of coronavirus?

Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.

How do we start exercising again without hurting ourselves after months of lockdown?

Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.

My state is reopening. Is it safe to go out?

States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.

How can I protect myself while flying?

If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)

How do I take my temperature?

Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.

Should I wear a mask?

The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.

What should I do if I feel sick?

If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

How do I get tested?

If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.

William Owens, the area’s former congressman, used to commute to Washington-Reagan National Airport from Vermont’s Burlington International Airport, the only service available at the time. His 42-mile, 75-minute commute to the airport began with a ferry ride across Lake Champlain.

If community support evaporates, routes can be altered or eliminated, making travel difficult for people like Faith Wilson, the national sales manager in Decatur, Ill., for a maintenance product distributor. Before the pandemic, she flew twice a month, usually out of Decatur Airport to St. Louis, a 50-minute flight; the drive is about two hours..

Cape Air served Decatur, population 71,000, with nine-passenger planes flying to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

When the transportation department received multiple bids for the contract renewal in March, the community wanted SkyWest. The carrier, operating as United Express, proposed flying a 50-seat jet, including 12 flights a week each about one hour in length from Decatur to O’Hare; Cape Air’s nine-seaters made the trip in an hour and 20 minutes.

Nicole Batemen, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County, a region that includes the headquarters of ADM, the multinational agricultural processor, and a Caterpillar equipment plant, said Cape Air’s planes were too small. Businesses interested in touring the area “couldn’t fit all of the delegation on one plane,” she said.

SkyWest Airlines won the contract for Decatur, but it doesn’t fly from there to St. Louis — Ms. Wilson’s frequent destination and a connection to her preferred carrier, Southwest Airlines, when she’s headed to other cities. “They took away my ability to fly Southwest,” she said.

Once she resumes traveling for business, Ms. Wilson is considering making the two-hour drive to St. Louis.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.