The U.S. Department of Transportation has yet to decide whether the Presque Isle International Airport will continue with JetBlue or change to American Airlines in September.
Both airline companies bid to serve the city in March. JetBlue’s two-year contract expires in two months.
The airport falls under the federal Essential Air Service program, which pays subsidies to airlines that make serving rural airports profitable. Besides the possibility of introducing a new carrier, the decision could end Presque Isle’s status as the country’s most heavily subsidized airport.
The transportation department has issued its decision earlier in recent years, but contract dates vary and the timing is not unexpected, according to Airport Director Scott Wardwell.
“It’s just part of the process. USDOT tells me this isn’t all that unusual,” Wardwell said.
The latest update occurred in June, when JetBlue slashed $3 million from its yearly subsidy request of $11.75 million. That move brought its bid closer to that of American, which requested annual subsidies of $8.25 million.
The transportation department considers airline bids, municipal recommendations and public comment, but it makes the final decisions on who provides service to terminals covered by Essential Air Service. Maine has four: Presque Isle International Airport, Augusta State Airport, Bar Harbor Airport and Knox County Regional Airport.
After a contentious process in 2024 between city officials, the Airport Advisory Board and residents, the city changed its protocol early this year and held a single public meeting in March. At that time, JetBlue and American gave their proposals, the public commented and the City Council deliberated.
The council and city officials recommended continuing with JetBlue.
Presque Isle receives more subsidies than any other Essential Air Service airport. Ogdensburg, New York, runs second at nearly $9 million per year. Devils Lake, North Dakota is third with $8.3 million.
That lineup could change in October, depending on upcoming federal carrier selections.
Last week the transportation department reselected Breeze Airways to serve Ogdensburg, dropping subsidies to $5 million, $5.2 million and $5.4 million over the next three years.
As Presque Isle awaits word from the transportation department, here’s a look at how the federal decisions have shaken out over the past 20 years, according to documents on file under the airport’s docket.
Aug. 24, 2006: Reselection of Colgan Air, operating as U.S. Airways Express. Annual Subsidy: $1.2 million.
May 23, 2008: Colgan Air. Annual subsidy: $2.6 million.
June 5, 2010: Colgan Air. Annual subsidy: $2.8 million.
March 2, 2012: Colgan Air announced termination of service, providing 19 weekly round trips to Boston Logan International Airport. Subsidy: $4.5 million. Service transferred to PenAir, 19 weekly round trips to Logan. Subsidy: $4.3 million for first six months, $3.9 million thereafter.
June 6, 2014: PenAir, 19 round trips to Logan. Annual subsidy: $4.7 million.
April 13, 2016: PenAir, 19 round trips to Logan. Annual subsidies: $5,087,738 (first year), $5,201,724 (second).
March 20, 2018: United Airlines, 12 round trips weekly to Newark Liberty International Airport. Annual subsidy: $4.8 million.
May 10, 2020: United Airlines, 12 round trips to Newark. Annual subsidy: $6.8 million.
Feb. 3, 2022: Reselection of United Airlines for 12 flights per week to Newark Liberty International Airport. Annual subsidy: $10,874,142.
June 3, 2024: JetBlue for seven flights per week to Logan. Subsidy: $10,412,703 (first year), $11,235,581 (second).
