SALINA, Kan. (KSNW) - The government shutdown has the fate of flying up in the air. The federally funded Essential Air Service program is expected to run out of money this weekend. That means planes won't fly into five Kansas airports.

For Kansas towns without a national airport, like Wichita, air travel is essential. It stimulates the economy, and for travellers in these more rural areas, it's their ticket to the rest of the world.

Salina Regional Airport, located over 80 miles from the nearest major airport, operates three flights a day. However, without these funds, executive director Pieter Miller is unsure how they would continue to operate. He said two of the options are reducing the number of flights or sourcing community funds from the surrounding areas.

People who travel for bu

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