🔗 Share this article US Says Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday Federal officials 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 due to the current federal funding lapse. Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure. Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about possible impacts. Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program. Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas. Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead. This initiative typically supports two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report 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. “All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”