US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has announced that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House 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.
During the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically supports two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
