US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts.
The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the air service program, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights 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 remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, observing the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”
