US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration proposed eliminating 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 more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report 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.
“Every state across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”
