Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and alerting local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, observing the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
