Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that funds from a US government program that supports airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
The department is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, noting the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
