Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that funds 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.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies 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 advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the initial term of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically supports two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“All states nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, observing the program had support from both parties. “We lack the funding for that program going forward.”
