Costa Hails Continued Essential Air Service at Merced Regional Airport

Merced, CA – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Merced) and Merced City Councilman Josh Pedrozo hailed a decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to maintain Essential Air Service at the Merced Regional Airport. Rep. Costa, along with other local officials, led the effort to save Essential Air Service when the federal transportation agency threatened to end the program in Merced earlier this year.

"After several months of hard work, I am thrilled that Essential Air Service will continue at the Merced Regional Airport. Today's decision will ensure the airport will continue to be an important economic engine for the region," said Rep. Costa. "I am grateful for DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx's commitment to seeing Merced's transportation network thrive over the coming years."

"We are delighted and thankful for Congressman Costa's efforts in helping Merced gain approval from the Department of Transportation granting Merced Regional Airport the waiver to maintain essential air service," said Councilman Pedrozo. "This will give the business community, the University community, and our residents better and more frequent opportunities to get to Merced. It will also allow those traveling from Merced to connect to larger airports without having to leave the community."

The Essential Air Service program was established to ensure smaller communities continued receiving adequate and affordable air transportation options following the airline deregulation of the 1970s. Merced Regional Airport offers competitively priced flights to Los Angeles thanks to its participation in the Essential Air Service program.

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