Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead.
This initiative typically supports two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state across the country will be impacted,” 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.”
