Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to remote airfields are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically supports two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that program going forward.”
