Government Announces Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that supports commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and alerting communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day 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 Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, observing the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”
