US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday

The Trump administration has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.

The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.

Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.

This initiative 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 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 secretary stated during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that program going forward.”