US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has announced that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and alerting local areas about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.
The program typically supports two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, observing the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
