US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated 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.
The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and informing local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308 million 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 the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.
The program typically supports two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that program moving forward.”
