US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts.
The government provides approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.
The program typically supports two return flights each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”
