Government Announces Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to End as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that funds from a US government program that supports commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
The department is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, observing the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that program moving forward.”
