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

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

Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.

Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and informing local areas about potential effects.

The government provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.

In recent months, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.

This initiative typically supports two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.

“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We lack the funding for that program moving forward.”