US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a US government program that supports airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the agency transferred unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
The department is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting local areas about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report 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 stated during a press conference, noting the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative going forward.”
