Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Soon as Sunday

The Trump administration has announced that funds from a US government program that supports airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.

Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and informing local areas about possible impacts.

The government allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.

In recent months, 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 first presidency of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase funding instead.

This initiative typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”