Overview

• DOT had warned appropriated funds would lapse on Oct. 12 and said carrier obligations under EAS orders would be suspended starting Oct. 13 until full funding is restored.
• Airlines that keep flying during a lapse were told they would operate at their own risk, with any payments potentially made pro rata from FAA overflight fees and other limited resources.
• Several carriers, including SkyWest, Contour and Alaska Airlines, signaled they plan to maintain schedules on subsidized routes despite reimbursement risk.
• The program supports roughly 170 small communities nationwide, with heavy reliance in Alaska, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said would be especially affected if subsidies dry up.
• Local airports from Pennsylvania to Utah and Arizona report plans to keep service going for now, but they caution that operations could be strained if Congress does not restore full appropriations before early November.