The U.S. Department of Transportation passed the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, which gave air carriers freedom to determine which markets to serve domestically and what fares to charge for that service. To address the concern that small communities previously served by certificated air carriers before airline deregulation maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service, Congress added section 419 to the Federal Aviation Act to ensure that smaller communities would retain a link to the National Air Transportation System, with Federal subsidies when necessary. The result of this Congressional action helped to launch the regional airline industry.
RAA’s 2019 Regional Airline Report Highlights Vital Industry
Key Takeaways:
- Regional airlines are a vital part of the U.S. air transportation system, connecting 570 small communities, generating $134 billion in economic activity, and supporting one million jobs.
- The industry faces a critical and worsening shortage of pilots and maintenance technicians, primarily due to retirements outpacing new entrants into the workforce.
- The Regional Airline Association (RAA) is actively engaged in recruitment initiatives and is advocating for legislative changes, such as improved federal financial aid, to ease the high cost of aviation education for aspiring pilots.
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