US Says Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing communities about potential effects.
The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
During 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 medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, noting the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”
