EAS Loss Won’t Effect Airport Operations
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The recent talk about losing Essential Air Service (EAS) federal funds and commercial passenger service at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport has many worried about the fate of the Jackson airport. However, leaders say losing one or both will not affect the day-to-day operations at the facility located in west Madison County. McKellar-Sipes is currently operating without any subsidy for commercial passenger service from the federal government. Airport officials say they are working to get it back but do not expect an answer until at least September. Airport Director Steve Smith says operation of a commercial airline is only a small part of daily traffic at McKellar-Sipes. “The air service that is here has been receiving $1.3 million a year to provide service to Nashville. That was in addition to their ticket sales,” said Smith. “However, the only thing the airport received from the carrier was rent for their counter space.” Last month, the tower counted more than 2,000 operations. However only 2.2 percent of those were commercial passenger service.
