Dubuque to Receive Massive Grant to Restore Commercial Air Service

Earlier this month, the Dubuque Regional Airport and Avelo Airlines began offering flights to Las Vegas, NV in addition to the existing flights to Orlando, FL. Mere weeks later, the City of Dubuque was notified by congressional representatives the airport and its partners will receive a lofty grant in order to help enhance air service.

The City of Dubuque announced this week that the Dubuque Regional Airport and its partners would receive a $1.5 million grant through the government's Small Community Air Service Development Program, per a press release. This will be added to about $535,000 in public/private partnership funding aimed at helping improve and expand local air service in/for the area.

The Small Community Air Service Development Program is designed to help small communities address air service issues. Grant funding can be used on efforts including revenue guarantees, financial assistance for marketing programs, studies, and start-up costs. - per the City of Dubuque press release

Approximately three-quarters of the airports in the United States have seen a reduction or total loss of service over the past four years, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the state of Iowa, airports have seen a 26% reduction in service.

After losing American Airlines in 2022, which provided daily flights to Chicago from Dubuque, the Dubuque Regional Airport announced that low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines would begin offering flights to Orlando twice a week. Since then, Avelo has started offering flights to Las Vegas.

Molly Grover, President and CEO of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed enthusiasm upon the airport receiving the grant:

We are thrilled to receive this grant award. Restoring and enhancing air service has been and continues to be amongst the Chamber’s top priorities. Our members have been emphatically clear in the need for additional air service for the growth and success of the business community. In today’s economy it’s simply a business imperative.

The Dubuque Commercial Air Service Team (CAST) continues to search for a carrier that would offer connections from Dubuque to larger cities. CAST continues to work with the Dubuque Regional Airport Commission to restore, sustain, and enhance commercial air service in Dubuque.

Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh thanked the Department of Transportation and several others involved who made the $1.5 million grant possible:

As we continue our tireless work to return daily commercial air service to the Dubuque Regional Airport, we are truly thankful to the Department of Transportation, the Biden Administration, and our Congressional delegation for their partnership and assistance. This grant is a major step forward in our quest to reconnect Dubuque to the rest of the United States by air as soon as possible. - per the City of Dubuque press release

Read more about the Dubuque Regional Airport's $1.5 million grant on the City of Dubuque's website.