WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT)–The Federal Government shutdown is now a week old, and it has caught the attention of rural airport managers across the country.

Smaller, rural airports, like Watertown, are served by commercial airlines that receive federal subsidies under the Essential Air Service program (EAS).

In Watertown’s case, that airline is SkyWest.

Mayor Ried Holien tells KWAT News city officials received notice Monday that federal subsidies to Essential Air Service carriers will stop on October 12th, but he’s been told that SkyWest will keep flying anyway.

SkyWest operates two airlines in Watertown with Delta flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and United Express flights to Denver.