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 because of the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and alerting local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically supports two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, observing the service had support from both parties. “We lack the funding for that program moving forward.”
