Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho, Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, and Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisacan collectively expressed support for the restoration of CNMI’s eligibility for the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Essential Air Service (EAS) Program.
NMI Delegate to the U.S. Congress Kimberlyn King-Hinds recently introduced a bill to reinstate the CNMI's eligibility for the EAS Program, aiming to ensure affordable and reliable air travel for the region.
USDOT canceled CNMI's access to the EAS Program due to changes in eligibility requirements. When the Federal Aviation Authority Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 was passed, over 600 communities, including the CNMI, lost their eligibility for EAS funding because they were not operating EAS routes at the time.
According to the Mayors of Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Northern Islands, the measure is vital to CNMI’s “economic recovery, healthcare accessibility, and overall quality of life.”
