Joel Rose

And smaller regional carriers would likely do the same, at least in the short run.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said funds for the essential air service program could run out as soon as Sunday if the government shutdown continues.

The program subsidizes flights to rural airports in about 170 U.S.

communities, including more than 60 in Alaska.

It would likely not have regular airline service without it.

But the Department of Transportation has now pushed that date back to November 2nd.

It's not clear if passengers would notice any change even then.

At least one carrier, Alaska Airlines, said it would continue service even without the subsidy payments.

And smaller regional carriers would likely do the same, at least in the short run.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

The Federal Aviation Administration will once again allow Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates for some of its 737 MAX planes.

The FAA revoked that authority in 2019 after the crashes of two 737 MAX jets that killed 346 people.

The move will not immediately lead to the delivery of more planes, but it is a sign of the FAA's growing confidence that Boeing has improved its quality and safety practices.

The FAA capped production of the 737 MAX at 38 jets per month after a mid-air panel blowout last year.

The agency says Boeing has not yet sought to increase that production rate and that FAA safety inspectors would still have to sign off before it does.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

The Transportation Department is announcing the new rules after fatal crashes this year in Florida, Texas, and Alabama.

Officials say all three were caused by non-citizen truck drivers who should not have received commercial driver's licenses.

The rules will make it impossible for many immigrants to get those licenses because only three specific classes of visa holders are eligible.