Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.
The program typically supports two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”
