Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) recently joined congressional colleagues in urging the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Treasury to protect regional airports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pappas, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and other legislators forwarded correspondence to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin seeking efforts to condition the receipt of Treasury funding to major airlines on the continuation of flights at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) and other regional airports.
“Our airport in Manchester is a major employer for our region and a significant economic driver for our state,” Pappas said. “This pandemic is disrupting operations and threatens the long-term progress that was underway at MHT. To ensure the viability of our airport and other regional airports, we need the Department of Transportation and Department of the Treasury to take immediate action and tell the airlines that they won’t be able to receive billions in taxpayer dollars unless they commit to continuing flights at smaller airports. The health of MHT, the strength of our business climate, and livelihoods of thousands of Granite State workers is at stake.”
Pappas said it is vital communities not lose access to the national airspace system because such access enables local businesses and residents to thrive in the national and international economy.