US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 41719

Air service termination notice

(a)

In General .—

An air carrier may not terminate interstate air transportation from a nonhub airport included on the Secretary of Transportation’s latest published list of such airports, unless such air carrier has given the Secretary at least 45 days’ notice before such termination.
(b)

Exceptions .—

The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply when—
(1)
the carrier involved is experiencing a sudden or unforeseen financial emergency, including natural weather related emergencies, equipment-related emergencies, and strikes;
(2)
the termination of transportation is made for seasonal purposes only;
(3)
the carrier involved has operated at the affected nonhub airport for 180 days or less;
(4)
the carrier involved provides other transportation by jet from another airport serving the same community as the affected nonhub airport; or
(5)
the carrier involved makes alternative arrangements, such as a change of aircraft size, or other types of arrangements with a part 121 or part 135 air carrier, that continues uninterrupted service from the affected nonhub airport.
(c)

Waivers for Regional/Commuter Carriers .—

Before , the Secretary shall establish terms and conditions under which regional/commuter carriers can be excluded from the termination notice requirement.
(d)

Definitions .—

In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)

Part 121 air carrier .—

The term “part 121 air carrier” means an air carrier to which part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, applies.
(2)

Part 135 air carrier .—

The term “part 135 air carrier” means an air carrier to which part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, applies.
(3)

Regional/commuter carriers .—

The term “regional/commuter carrier” means—
(A)
a part 135 air carrier; or
(B)
a part 121 air carrier that provides air transportation exclusively with aircraft having a seating capacity of no more than 70 passengers.
(4)

Termination .—

The term “termination” means the cessation of all service at an airport by an air carrier.

Pub. L. 103–305, title II, § 207(a)108 Stat. 1587Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(53)108 Stat. 4385Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(73)110 Stat. 3396Pub. L. 106–181, title II, § 231(b)(1)114 Stat. 108Pub. L. 108–176, title II, § 225(b)(1)117 Stat. 2528(Added , , , § 41715; amended , , ; , , ; renumbered § 41719, , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

This amends 49:41715(a) to conform to the style of title 49.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 108–1762003—Subsec. (d). redesignated pars. (2) to (5) as (1) to (4), respectively, and struck out former par. (1) which defined “nonhub airport”.

Pub. L. 106–181section 41715 of this title2000— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 104–2871996—Subsec. (a). substituted “Secretary of Transportation’s” for “Secretary’s”.

Pub. L. 103–4291994—Subsec. (d)(1). substituted “41731(a)(4)” for “41731(a)(3)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–176section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176section 106 of this titleAmendment by applicable only to fiscal years beginning after , except as otherwise specifically provided, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–305, title II, § 207(d)108 Stat. 1588

section 46301 of this title“The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending ] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that: