Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative 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 indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts.
The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
