As flight cancellations and delays mount with worker shortages across the country during the federal government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration has another complication on the horizon that could affect flights out of Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
Macon is one of nearly 180 communities across the United States and Puerto Rico that receive federal subsidies for airlines providing passenger service at smaller airports.
No payments are expected during the shutdown, Macon-Bibb County’s Assistant to the County Manager for Budget & Strategic Planning Julie Moore told The Macon Newsroom Thursday.
Passengers flying out of Middle Georgia Regional Airport have nothing to worry about in the near future, said Macon-Bibb County Aviation Doug Faour.
“No flights are going to be canceled. All of our operations are functional at this point,” Faour said Wednesday afternoon.
Moore said the county pledged to keep planes through this month.
“We have made the decision to at least go 30 days and see where we are at, but it’s about $400,000 a month, and so we’ll keep an eye on it,” Moore said.
Less than a week into the shutdown, Macon-Bibb broke ground Monday on its new guitar-shaped executive terminal and is working on extending the runway with the goal of attracting more airlines and flights to the regional airport.
Earlier this year, Spirit Airlines announced passenger service from Macon to Ft. Lauderdale would begin in October, but the company’s bankruptcy canceled those plans.
While some carriers servicing smaller communities receive subsidies directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Macon-Bibb’s agreement with Contour Airlines is under the Alternate Essential Air Service program where the county subsidizes the completed flights and is later reimbursed for each month by the U.S. DOT.
In fall of 2023, the county agreed to fund up to $20.2 million in subsidies between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2027.
Wednesday, NPR transportation correspondent Joel Rose reported the Trump administration expects the Essential Air Service subsidy program to run out of money as soon as this weekend.
Moore is hopeful Macon-Bibb will be reimbursed for September’s flights because the shutdown began on Oct. 1.
During the 2018 shutdown, Macon-Bibb also continued the subsidies and was later reimbursed with federal funds, Faour said.
Although a precedent was set, there are no guarantees on how this latest Congressional funding standoff will play out and how long it will last.
“We don’t know. We’re kind of trying to figure things out like everybody else is, so Contour’s intent is to continue to fly,” he said.
Middle Georgia Regional Airport also does not have to worry about federal air traffic controllers not showing up for unpaid work as private contractors staff the local tower.
“They’re not FAA employees in the tower. It’s a contract. And my understanding from talking to them is, their contract is funded through several months, and there’s no expected issues there,” Faour said.
NPR also reported the White House considered cutting $300 million from the subsidy programs earlier this year, so it remains to be seen whether any budget cuts could affect the future of Macon’s passenger flights.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Melody and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
