US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports 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 expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically supports two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, observing the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
