US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that program going forward.”
