Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost 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 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“Every state across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”
