US Says Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to End as Soon as Sunday

The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.

Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.

Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and alerting local areas about possible impacts.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.

In recent months, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.

During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.

This initiative typically supports two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. 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 the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.

“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We lack the funding for that program moving forward.”