Congressman Nolan Talks Federal Dollars For Regional Airports

In 1978 the Airline Deregulation Act was signed curbing the governments ability to regulate the airline industry. Since then the government has used extra fees added to plane tickets to help fund some regional airports. Congressman Nolan was in Brainerd today to hear from the local business about the importance Brainerd’s regional airport.

Congressman Nolan says he’ll fight in Washington to make sure the regional airports like Brainerd’s, Bemidji’s and Hibbing keep getting those federal dollars. And the Brainerd Regional Airport says without those dollars it’d be tough to offer quality service.

The Brainerd Regional Airport has served the Brainerd Lakes Area for almost a century. And some local businesses say tourist and other businesses use the airport as a gateway to the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Congressman Nolan says he’s heard from some local businesses in rural areas tell him if it wasn’t for the regional airport, they wouldn’t be able to service that community.