Delaney Voices Support for Hagerstown Airport

Statement

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that the Hagerstown Regional Airport could lose Essential Air Service support, due to changes enacted in the FAA Modernization Act of 2012. Airport officials have stated that they will apply for a waiver, because the circumstances that led to the DOT's calculation have changed.

Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement:

"The end of Essential Air Service support from the Department of Transportation likely means the end of daily commercial air service in Hagerstown, which will limit the options for consumers in Western Maryland and reduce the airport's job creation potential.

"I'm a strong supporter of the Hagerstown Regional Airport, which I believe is a key economic asset for our region and I believe passenger air service should be a part of the airport's profile.

"I fully support the airport's request for a waiver and I will make that support clear to the Department of Transportation. The data suggests that the airport's lower number of enplanements is likely temporary and that other extenuating circumstances led to a dip in reported traffic.

"When sequestration threatened the airport, we made our voice heard and it made a difference. Airport traffic means jobs for our region and it would be deeply unfortunate if a temporary drop in enplanements, which has already significantly increased since the time period considered by DOT, led to the end of passenger service in Hagerstown. I'm going to make sure the Department of Transportation hears the whole story."

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