US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department stated that subsidies 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.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, observing the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”
