US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
Federal officials has announced that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically supports two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, noting the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”
