Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025

The Essential Air Service Reliability Act of 2025 would require any request for compensated Basic Essential Air Service (EAS) to include a contingency plan showing how air service would continue to reach the eligible community if a disruption occurs that is not related to weather. In short, applicants seeking EAS subsidies would have to demonstrate how they would maintain service during non-weather disruptions (e.g., strikes, mechanical problems, or other operational issues). The bill also revises the structure of the EAS provisions for clarity, mandates that the new contingency requirement take effect within 180 days of enactment, and makes a minor cross-reference adjustment in related EAS language. Overall, the measure aims to improve reliability of subsidized rural air service by forcing planning for continuity when disruptions occur, potentially affecting how communities are served and how compensation is awarded and administered.