VISALIA AIRPORT:
Essential Air Service (EAS)
Presented by:
Jody Miller, Airport Manager
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager
September 21, 2026
“30,000-FT” VIEW
The Essential Air Service (EAS) program began in 1978 to guarantee access to safe, reliable, and affordable air service to rural or remote communities.
Currently there are 182 EAS airports nationwide, with 71 in Alaska and Hawaii, and three (3) in California:
Crescent City (Del Norte County Regional Airport)
El Centro (Imperial County Airport)
Merced (Merced Yosemite Regional Airport)
Visalia Municipal Airport (KVIS), in exchange for $3.7 million in extra capital funding for hangar development, voluntarily began a 10-year moratorium of service on May 1, 2017.
USDOT expected to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for interested air carriers in October 2026, ahead of the Airport’s EAS eligibility return date of May 1, 2027.
EAS ELIGIBILITY SUMMARY
Communities within 175 driving miles of a FAA designated medium- or large-hub airport must maintain an average of at least ten (10) enplanements per service day.
Communities within 175 driving miles must maintain an average subsidy of less than $650 per passenger; Communities beyond 175 miles the cap is $1000 per passenger dropping to $850 as of October 1, 2026.
Enplanements
Subsidies
Visalia is 178 driving miles from the Hollywood Burbank Airport, so the minimum ten (10) enplanements does not apply, and the subsidy cap will be $850 at the time of potential return to the EAS program.
Implications to Visalia
1. 2.
3. TIMELINE
USDOT to issue RFP in October timeframe with typically a 30-day period for air carrier “best and final” proposals USDOT submits qualified proposals to the City for 30-day review by the City and local community through public meetings and outreach, with the City submitting an official letter of recommendation.
Request for Proposals
Community Outreach
Section Criteria:
Demonstrated reliability of service
Agreements with larger air carriers
City and community preference
Community marketing plan
Total proposed compensation
USDOT Selection
1. 2.
3. POTENTIAL CARRIERS
Parent company to regional operators like Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines. Originally began as a membership-based flight service and now offers scheduled and on-demand regional travel options.
Commuter and private charter airline headquartered at Hawthorne Municipal Airport (Los Angeles) where it also operates Jet Center Los Angeles.
Surf Air
Advanced Air
Founded in 2007 by early Google employees, originally an aviation technology company before branching out into charter and passenger airline services.
Boutique Air
A brand of Contour Aviation which began in 1982 as a private aviation company, Contour Airlines joined the public market in 2016 with a focus on connecting smaller communities to major hubs.
Contour Airlines
Flight Level Aviation
Operating since 2019 and based out of Fresno Chandler Executive Airport, Flight Level Aviation handles all aspects of a first-class custom aviation experience.
Smaller Planes Not Smaller Experiences
RESOURCES REQUIRED
Historically Visalia Airport has held this designation, however, at the beginning of the current 10-year EAS moratorium it was decided to transition to a General Aviation (or GA) airport .
Main aspect needed to regain Part 139 certification would be to procure two (2) Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) trucks and the associated emergency equipment needed to equip as required.
Used- $100,000-$500,000 per Truck
New-$1-1.5 Million (Class 4)
Sterile vs Non-Sterile
CFR Part 139 Designation
Emergency Response Equipment and Training
TSA Screening
RECOMMENDATIONS:
City Council select two (2) Members to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to coordinate with City staff and local business partners in community outreach and review of potential certified air carriers for recommendation to Council.
City Council Receive Presentation
City Council Select Two (2) Members
Questions/Direction
THANK YOU
visalia.gov
[email protected]
559-713-4282
9501 W Airport Dr
September 13, 2026