Government Announces Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has announced that financial support 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 indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that initiative going forward.”
