The Chautauqua County Airport, just north of Jamestown. (Image via Google)

WASHINGTON – Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say a new, five-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill has been passed in congress and signed into law by the president.  The new bill includes funding for both the Essential Air Service (EAS) program and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

Five airports in New York receive EAS funding, while Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport is in the process of reapplying to regain its EAS status.

In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation terminated the EAS agreement in Jamestown due to a lack of passengers. Shortly after, Southern Airways left the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport because of the funding cut.

In May, it was announced that Boutique Airways had submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide air service to the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport under the EAS program, which provides essential funding for small airports.

With the new funding secured for five years, officials now anticipate a ruling on that request for a return of the EAS status in Jamestown in the coming weeks.

Sun Air has successfully developed a connecting hub model at the Pittsburgh International Airport. There, passengers can connect to over 50 cities around the United States and around the world.

Sun Air Express currently operates a fleet of piston engine Piper Chieftain aircraft, most of which will be retired over the next year, in favor of Southern’s flagship Caravan 208 planes, which are run by turbine engines.

Southern representatives say passengers will appreciate the upgrade – saying the plan is safe, comfortable, and has a reliability rate over 98 percent for on-time departures.

Southern Airways will consolidate and relocate most corporate functions from Fort Lauderdale to Memphis, although the airline will retain certain operational functions in Florida.