Vasquez Stands up for Passengers, Rural Communities in FAA Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 20, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization of 2023. Included in the bill is Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (N.M.-02) bipartisan amendment to determine the economic impact of the loss of commercial air service and recommendations to restore service to rural communities, including Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport.

“Our rural communities like Alamogordo deserve safe, reliable access to air travel. Unfortunately, Alamogordo lost its commercial air service over a decade ago. That’s why I introduced an amendment to direct the FAA to take the first steps towards restoring commercial air service at Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport,” said Vasquez. “Local economies and safe transportation are impacted when airports close. It is vital that we understand the full extent of those impacts and keep communities connected. I’m proud that my amendment passed with bipartisan support, and I look forward to working across the aisle to strengthen the economies of our small communities.”

Vasquez’s amendment requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) and National Academies to conduct a study that will analyze the reduction of air service, evaluate economic losses, identify causes for the reduction, assess the impact of changing aircraft economics and provide actionable recommendations to support the restoration of commercial air service. Case studies will be conducted on at least seven communities, including Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport, Williamsport Regional Airport, and Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport.

“The City of Alamogordo lost commercial air service in 2012 and Rep. Vasquez’s amendment to the FAA Reauthorization will tremendously impact our decade-long quest to restore this service. This is an exciting opportunity for Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport to determine the economic impact we can have on the region,” saidStephanie Hernandez, Acting City Manager of Alamogordo. “We are grateful to Rep. Vasquez for recognizing the impact that commercial air service can have on our community and working with us to bring it back.”

The FAA Reauthorization Act will fund the FAA’s vital work for the next five years, notable wins for New Mexican consumers and veterans. Alongside a study of Alamogordo- White Sands Regional Airport, DOT is also tasked with ensuring that airlines reimburse hotel and meal costs when travelers are subject to canceled or significantly delayed flights. 

In recent months, hundreds of thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed, in part, because of a shortage of aviation personnel. This Act will mandate an interagency working group tasked with ensuring that veterans are able to more easily transition from military to civil aviation, increasing access to good paying jobs for our nation’s heroes and bolstering our economy.

The Act also makes traveling easier for families of young children by requiring that airlines establish policies to prevent families from being separated, if there are available adjacent seats.

Vasquez also protected access to rural airports by voting to preserve the Essential Air Service program. Through this program, Cavern City Air Terminal receives $3,425,385 and Grant County Airport gets $4,830,725. 

Vasquez has also introduced H.R. 2916, the bipartisan Expanding Regional Airports Act, which would increase federal funding to support airport infrastructure. In the FAA Reauthorization, Vasquez worked to secure a 20 percent increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program, which benefits airports across New Mexico’s second district, including Las Cruces International Airport.

Vasquez remains committed to preserving rural air service for communities across New Mexico.

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