Subsidy For Air Travel In Hagerstown In Jeopardy

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A federal subsidy for air travel in Hagerstown is in jeopardy because of a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The subsidy of more than $1.2 million pays for Cape Air flights between Hagerstown Regional Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Efforts to avert a shutdown of the FAA failed Friday as lawmakers disagreed over a $16.5 million cut in subsidies to 13 rural communities.

The Hagerstown Herald-Mail reports that Cape Air is scheduled to receive $1.2 million from last October to this coming September to provide 28 nonstop round-trip flights per week between Hagerstown and BWI.

Obama administration officials have said the shutdown will not affect air safety. Air traffic controllers will remain on the job.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)