Federal officials has announced that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.
The program typically supports two round trips daily 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 Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”
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