SC Alaska News

Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents Alaska in the U.S. Senate, posted a series of messages on her X (formerly Twitter) account regarding the importance of Essential Air Service (EAS) for Alaskan communities and announced her participation in a statewide radio program.

On October 6, 2025, Murkowski informed followers about her upcoming appearance on a local radio show, writing: "Tomorrow at 10am, I’ll be on Talk of Alaska! For those in Anchorage, please call 907-550-8422, and Alaskans statewide can reach us at 1-800-478-8255. I look forward to hearing from you!"

The following day, she addressed the role of the Essential Air Service program. On October 7, 2025, she posted: "Essential Air Service is just that— an essential lifeline for so many in Alaska and across rural America, helping to move people and deliver necessities." In a subsequent post on the same day, she emphasized the impact of any disruptions to these services: "The critical assistance these routes provide makes a disruption on any scale detrimental to these communities, and the local air carriers serving them."

The Essential Air Service program was established after airline deregulation in 1978 to ensure that small and rural communities maintained access to commercial air service. In Alaska, where road infrastructure is limited or nonexistent for many remote towns and villages, EAS provides crucial connections for residents, businesses, and delivery of goods.

Murkowski has previously advocated for federal support of EAS, citing its role in sustaining economic activity and healthcare access across rural Alaska.