Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that supports airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
The department is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
