As airlines, travelers and airport officials prepare for another busy July 4th holiday, the Federal Aviation Administration is also keeping an eye on future capacity needs, awarding $289 million for new and improved runways, taxiways and other infrastructure projects across the country.
The new round of awards, which the FAA announced July 1, includes grants for projects at 129 airports in 40 states. Most of the grants are for infrastructure; some will go for planning, equipment and other improvements. Check here for a complete list of projects.
The funds come from the Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program of the Employment and Infrastructure Investment Act. The largest single grant of the round is $66.7 million to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, for demolition and site preparation for a new 2,100-foot taxiway.
Other large grants include $30.1 million to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to rebuild a runway; and $26.6 million to Indianapolis International Airport, also for runway reconstruction.
Philadelphia International Airport is receiving three grants, totaling $22.2 million, to rebuild an apron, rehabilitate a taxiway and make engineering safety improvements to a runway. Also on the list of beneficiaries is Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, which will get $17.2 million to rebuild a runway and rehabilitate a runway.
Launched the round of terminal subsidies
Along with the infrastructure grants, the FAA also announced it will launch the IIJA grant round for fiscal year 2025 to help fund airport terminal improvements. The FAA says terminal grants are expected to total $1 billion. View the funding opportunity notice here.
The application deadline ends on July 31.
The agency also said that so far 190 terminal projects funded in previous rounds are under construction and six are complete.
In total, the IIJA provides $25 billion in airport and aviation funding over five years. This includes $14.5 billion for the AIG program and $5 billion for the terminal program.
