"Over the last six years, airlines have experienced severe financial pressure to leave smaller communities, making demands on the EAS program even greater"

This quote by Nick Rahall is describing the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which provides aids to airlines to ensure that smaller communities have access to air transportation. The quote recommends that over the last six years, airlines have actually been under financial pressure to leave smaller sized communities, which has actually increased the need for the EAS program. This could be due to a range of aspects, such as rising fuel expenses, increased competitors, and a decrease in need for air travel. As an outcome, the EAS program has become increasingly crucial in order to make sure that smaller communities have access to air transport. This quote highlights the importance of the EAS program in providing air transportation to smaller sized communities, and the monetary pressures that airlines have actually been facing over the last few years.