US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend

Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the department transferred unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.

Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.

Earlier this year, the administration proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.

The program typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that program moving forward.”