WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - A government program encouraging airlines to stop at rural airports like Watertown’s, Massena’s, and Ogdensburg’s is set to continue, at least until early November.

The program, called the Essential Air Service, or EAS, subsidizes airlines to visit rural airports. The service was under threat of funding lapses due to the government shutdown.

But, $41 million recently secured by the U.S. Department of Transportation will sustain the service for now.

The funding is enough to keep the program running until November 2nd, where the service will once again be under threat of funding lapses.

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