US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has announced that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”