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Nearly 200 remote communities could find themselves cut off from civilization if the government shutdown lasts through the weekend when funding for their rural airports runs dry – and the outlook for major travel hubs isn’t much brighter.
The Essential Air Service program (EAS) — which subsidizes flights at more than 170 remote airports across all 50 states – only has enough cash to last through Sunday, and will stop reimbursing small time airport operations until the federal government reopens when it runs dry, the US Transportation Department announced Monday.
That means airports, airlines, and pilots could have no choice but to shut down – leaving thousands without access to work, hospitals, and other critical services they depend on to sustain their lives in remote communities.
“Every state across the country will be impacted,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday, according to Reuters. “We don’t have the money for that program moving forward.”
Alaska would be particularly hard hit by the loss of EAS funding – with 65 communities in the rugged state depending on its flights to reach basic survival needs.
“This is almost breathtaking, when you think about the implications for these communities,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R. AK) told NBC News. “There is no road for any of these places.” She added.
“This is a big stressor right now,” she added, explaining Alaska Airways plans to continue services to some airports but that smaller airlines and carriers may not be able to keep up.
EAS typically funds two daily roundtrip flights on plantes no larger than 50 seats to its communities, along with trips on planes smaller than 30 seats.
The dangers of lost flights are amplified as the government shut down – which reached its seventh day Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach consensus on a spending bill – coincides with the summer weather beginning to turn in some parts of the country.
“Our winters out here are 20-below, they’re pretty treacherous,” said the manager of Sidney-Richland Airport in Montana, Ryan Huotari. “It’s pretty scary driving from here to Billings. I’d rather be in an airplane than a car.”
Sidney is just four hours from Billings, but many elderly people can’t make the eight-hour roundtrip journey – especially if rain or snow become part of the equation
“If the EAS didn’t exist, I don’t think it would be able to function,” said Huotari about the airport.
The government shutdown has begun to drag on the nation’s largest travel hubs, too.
Air traffic controllers across the country began working without pay on Monday, and airports have begun seeing tower staff calling in sick – which has resulted in delays piling up across the country as airports reduce flights to maintain safety standards.
Nashville International Airport was even forced to shut down for seven hours Tuesday evening over control tower staffing shortages, as did the smaller Hollywood Burbank Airport near Los Angeles on Monday where pilots were told “The tower is closed due to staffing” while radioing for take off clearance.
Newark International Airport is also expected to begin reducing flights in the coming days if the shutdown isn’t ended, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday.
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