Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts.
The government provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the initial term of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically supports two round trips daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
