(File photo) A Contour Airlines jet touches down Oct. 1 at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.

WILLIAMSTOWN — Additional funding has been secured for the program that subsidizes commercial flights at rural airports as the federal government shutdown continues.

According to a notice from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a copy of which was provided by Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville, the additional funding will allow for the continuation of Essential Air Service and Alternate Essential Air Service through Nov. 18 if the shutdown continues that long.

Contour Airlines provided flights to and from the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport under the Alternate Essential Air Service program since 2018. It was set to be replaced under the standard EAS program by Air Wisconsin, but that company pulled out weeks before it was supposed to take over on Oct. 1.

That’s also the date the federal government shut down without an appropriations bill or continuing resolution to direct government funding.

Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation announced it would relieve EAS providers of their obligations and stop providing reimbursements for AEAS providers if the shutdown lasted beyond Oct. 12. Contour is continuing flights at the local airport as an air charter service until a new carrier is selected, but a DOT official previously said that funding comes from the same source as EAS and AEAS money.

Contour CEO Matt Chaifetz said after the initial announcement that the company intended to keep operating its full flight schedule during the shutdown.

A few days after the notice about funding running out, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the department had secured $41 million to keep EAS funded through Nov. 2.

The notice issued Wednesday extends that through “at least” Nov. 18. Unlike the previous notice that said EAS providers’ obligations would be suspended after Nov. 2, this notice says “air carriers must continue to fulfill their obligations under existing contracts unless or until the department notifies air carriers otherwise.”

“Should there be a prolonged lapse in government appropriations that extends beyond November 18, 2025, the Department will provide notice to air carriers and communities in advance of that date,” it says.

A continuing resolution approved by the U.S. House of Representatives but that has failed multiple times to garner the 60 votes needed to move forward in the Senate would fund the federal government at current levels through Nov. 21.

A message to a Transportation representative seeking comment on the source of the additional funding was not returned Thursday afternoon.