Did you know you’re paying for this?

The federal government is paying out $113 million a year in airline subsidies in exchange for serving small communities that (in theory) can’t support the service based on the business they provide. Federal taxpayers are spending up to $567 per passenger to subsidize air service to rural communities that may have as few as two or three air travelers a day. Some more snippets from the piece: _ The federal cost has jumped from $22.6 million in 1996 to $113 million this year — a fivefold increase. The increase is explained in part by a growth in the number of communities served from 97 to 135 and rising expenses, such as fuel. _ The average per passenger subsidy paid to airlines nearly tripled to $229 per passenger for each flight in the 48 continental states…

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