🔗 Share this article US Says Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend Federal officials has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown. The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure. The department is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects. The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program. In recent months, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions. During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration 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 more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity. “Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”