ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AUTHORIZATION.

SEC. 451. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AUTHORIZATION. (a) In General.—Section 41742(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2011” and all that follows before “to carry out” and inserting “$155,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, $158,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $161,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, $165,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, $168,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, and $172,000,000 for fiscal year 2023”. (b) [49 U.S.C. 41733 note] Seasonal Service.—The Secretary of Transportation may consider the flexibility of current operational dates and airport accessibility to meet local community needs when issuing requests for proposal of essential air service at seasonal airports.