I'm not super-educated here (learned from a friend of mine), but here are some links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service http://en.wikipedia.or

I'm not super-educated here (learned from a friend of mine), but here are some links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service (about $74/passenger subsidy for small airports in rural areas. http://www.dot.gov/bib2009/htm/FAA.html http://www.dot.gov/bib2009/htm/FAA.html -- the FAA 2009 budget, includes: $9.7 billion for Air traffic organization $2.1 billion for Safety & Operations $2.8 billion for Airport grants