Colgan Air to leave Bar Harbor, Presque Isle
Colgan Air plans to cease servicing airports in Bar Harbor and Presque Isle, likely by early next year.
The company, which operates in the region as U.S. Airways Express, will petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to end service between the airports and Boston, and between Bar Harbor and Plattsburg, N.Y., according to the Bangor Daily News. The company said it will likely end service by early 2012, but per regulations under the DOT's Essential Air Service program, it must service the Northern Maine Regional Airport and the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport until a new carrier is identified. The company said it is reducing service at its Boston hub as part of a restructured strategic plan.
The EAS program provides federal subsidies to air carriers that service rural airports, and the program has come under fire by federal lawmakers looking to cut national spending. Colgan Air, based in Memphis, receives an annual subsidy of $2.1 million to run its Bar Harbor service and $2.6 million for its Presque Isle service, according to the paper. Massachusetts-based Cape Air services Maine's other two EAS airports in Augusta and Rockland.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments