(AP) — Flight cancellations have become common at Nebraska’s smaller airports, jeopardizing federal funding and forcing residents to drive hundreds of miles to catch a flight.

Cancellations seem routine at the six Nebraska airports served by Great Lakes Airlines: Alliance, Chadron, Kearney, McCook, North Platte and Scottsbluff

The lost flights hurt business in those communities. But Alliance City Manager J.D. Cox says there isn’t much cities can do.

New federal rules that went into effect Aug. 1 has caused a shortage of pilots for Great Lakes and other regional airlines. That’s led to cancellations and frustrated would-be passengers.

Smaller airports must have at least 10,000 annual boardings each year to qualify for federal subsidies. Failure to reach the threshold could cost airports $850,000 in federal funding.