The City of Las Cruces will discontinue Advanced Air’s subsidized passenger service between Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) and Albuquerque (ABQ) effective June 30, 2026. The decision follows the full exhaustion of available City and state Rural Air Service Enhancement (RASE) grant funding.
Since the route began in January 2023, Advanced Air has received approximately $5 million in state subsidies and roughly $600,000 in City of Las Cruces taxpayer funds. The operation currently costs the City approximately $130,000 per month while carrying an average of six passengers per flight.
The City is confronting significant budget pressures that require difficult prioritization of limited resources. Continuing to subsidize a high-cost route that serves a small segment of the population is difficult to sustain when dollars are needed to support essential services relied upon by the broader community.
Service has been reduced to two round trips per week for the remainder of June to stretch remaining funds and the City is actively pursuing a new RASE grant application ahead of the June 30 deadline, along with other options to restore service when funding allows.
When service resumes the goal will be to explore service to Phoenix, with larger aircraft, and at a more sustainable cost structure that provides better investment for air service from the Las Cruces Airport.
The City recognizes the impact this service change may have on travelers and appreciates their patience and understanding during this transition.
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