Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically supports two round trips daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
