Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend

Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse.

The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.

The department is in the process of alerting carriers 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 administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.

Throughout the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead.

The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, observing the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”