US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing local areas about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
