Important Air Service (EAS), a US government program designed to ensure commercial air connection for nearly 200 small and rural communities, has faced increasing uncertainty as the federal closure extends to the second week. The program, established to subsidize unfavorable routes that preserves isolated areas associated with major hubs, has become a lifespan for people who depend on air travel for work, healthcare, and important items. Now, with financing stopped and Air travel is tense by the widespread shortage of TSA staffThe continuity of this important air link is at risk.
“Every state across the country will be affected,” said Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy on Monday, According to Reuters. “We don’t have the money for the program to move forward.”
Subsequently, in a step aimed at avoiding further interference, US Transport Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on October 8 that the Transport Department had earn an additional $ 41 million To ensure that the Essential Air Service Program (EAS) runs. The program remains a political and economic lifestyle for small -world cities -many dependent on subsidized aviation and air services scheduled to attract businesses and maintain the local economy.
Dot guarantees an indispensable $ 41 million to save American small city airport from closing
Essential Air Service (EAS), a major life for the rural community in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, is at risk of running out of funds on Sunday if the government’s closure continues. The government told the airline that if they were flying essential air service flights over Sunday during the closure of the government, they “do so at their own risk as the department may not be able to pay the contract subsidies.”
With $ 41 million financing in the last minute guaranteed, the EAS program has a temporary lifestyle to ensure it runs through next month, with additional funds expected to maintain operations early November.
Established in 1978, EAS provides funds to regional airline airline To connect rural airports across unfavorable routes, allows remote communities to access larger airports for essential supplies and services.
“Money is running out this Sunday, so there are many small communities across the country who now no longer have resources to ensure they have air services in their community,” Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said in a press conference on Monday. “Each state across the country will be influenced by the inability to provide subsidies to airlines to serve this community.”
Suggested that Congress gathered and reopened the government, a regional aviation association, representing airlines supported by EAS funds, in a statement:
“The commercial air service at EAS airport has an economic impact of $ 2.3 billion and supports more than 17,000 US jobs” before the pandemic, “the program is an important economic life for 169 airports that often hit the most difficult when there is interruption in the country’s airspace system.”
$ 41 million is guaranteed in additional financing to maintain the Essential Air Service Program (EAS)
Two days after notifying the eligible EAS community and air carriers providing EAS on the potential shortage of financing, the Transport Department earned $ 41 million to maintain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. Without these funds, and with a dragging closure, airports, airlines, and pilots who rely on EAS support can be forced to suspend operations, cut thousands of residents in remote communities from jobs, hospitals, and other important services they expect.
Nearly 200 isolated communities depend on the EAS program
Without new guaranteed funds, more than 170 airports in all 50 states will face basic operations after Sunday as their cash reserves run dry. According to the Department of Transport, the program supports air services to about 65 communities in Alaska and 112 others across the remaining 49 states and Puerto Rico, areas that may not have commercial air connections without it.
The program is very critical in Alaska, where the air travel is often the only way to connect the island -scattered island and the isolated tundra community. EAS subsidies have increased by more than 500% since 1997. Congress allocates nearly $ 500 million to EAS in 2024, the program became a threat earlier this year when the administration proposed Cutting off its $ 308 million discretion financing.
“This is almost amazing, when you think about the implications for this community,” Sen said. Lisa Murkowski (R. AK) told NBC News. “There is no way for this place.” Add it. “This is a huge pressure now,” he said, explaining Alaska Airlines’s plan to continue service to several airports but smaller airlines and airlines may not be able to compete.
In a statement, Alaska Airlines confirmed that “Despite the ongoing uncertainty, we plan to continue to operate our flights and on schedule when the Federal Government works to complete the closure.”