Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has announced that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, observing the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”
