Residents of Provincetown, Massachusetts, face a daunting 120-mile, five-hour drive to Boston during the off-season, as commercial flights are not available from fall to spring. The town’s sole airline, Cape Air, stopped offering year-round passenger flights to and from Boston two winters ago, citing unprofitable routes.
Provincetown’s population swells from 3,500 to 60,000 during the summer, making the drive to Boston a long and arduous one. Joe Castellana, a resident, often prefers to fly, but is limited to doing so only about half the year. The flight from Provincetown to Boston takes just 20 minutes, but the lack of year-round commercial flights has significant implications for residents and tourists alike.
Year Round Air Service
The loss of year-round air service is not unique to Provincetown, as many remote towns across the US struggle to maintain commercial flights. The Essential Air Service program, which pays airlines to operate in small, rural communities, is facing potential cuts, exacerbating the issue. Airlines often require subsidies to operate in these areas, as passenger demand can be low and erratic.
Attracting commercial air service to remote areas is a challenge, with many airports experiencing reduced flights and some losing commercial air service entirely. The Regional Airline Association has termed this a “air service crisis” that poses an existential threat to small community air service. Provincetown voters recently rejected a measure to provide Cape Air with a subsidy to restore off-season flights, citing concerns over the financial burden on taxpayers.
The decline in air service is attributed to a combination of factors, including reduced passenger demand, a pilot shortage, and increased costs for fuel, labor, and maintenance. John Twiss, Cape Air’s vice president of planning, notes that the challenge lies in finding a sustainable solution that meets passenger demand at acceptable revenue levels.
Impact on Remote Communities
The lack of year-round air service has significant implications for remote communities, affecting not only residents but also local businesses and tourism. Airports can be economic engines, driving growth and development, but the absence of commercial flights can hinder these efforts. As the US continues to urbanize, the need for reliable air service in remote areas becomes increasingly important.
The rejection of the subsidy measure in Provincetown highlights the difficulties in finding a solution to this issue. As Catherine Skowron, a former resident, notes, the burden of subsidizing air service should not fall solely on taxpayers. The search for a sustainable solution continues, with many remote towns facing similar challenges in maintaining year-round commercial flights.
