# Ought skiplagging be permitted?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-skiplagging-be-permitted/988795>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 19, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-skiplagging-be-permitted/988795 "2023-08-19T12:06:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 74

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-skiplagging-be-permitted/988795/74 "2023-08-21T18:51:22Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> If airlines didn’t think flights to smaller of lower-demand cities weren’t cost effective, they wouldn’t be providing flights to those cities.

And, in fact, the U.S. government subsidizes airline service to many smaller airports, to ensure that they continue to be served, even though they may be unprofitable to do so for the airlines.

> **[Essential Air Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service)**
>
> Essential Air Service (EAS) is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which had been served by certificated airlines prior to deregulation in 1978, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these communities that otherwise would not be profitable. The program is codified at 49 U.S.C. §§ 41731–41748.
> The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) subsidizes airlines to serve commu...

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