Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
