The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $970 million to 125 U.S. airports in its latest disbursement from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funding announced this week is from the Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal Program grants. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a historic $25 billion to modernize the country’s airport infrastructure.
Historically, the FAA has invested in runways, air traffic-control towers, and back-of-house infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included a new program focused on making the passenger experience better, improving accessibility for passengers with disabilities, and supporting sustainability all while creating good-paying construction jobs.
Today’s announcement includes funding for new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints, increasing gate capacity, and modernizing aging infrastructure throughout terminals and ground transportation.
“Investing in America’s airport infrastructure isn’t just about upgrading runways and terminals—it’s about growing local economies, creating jobs, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of travel,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With the grants we’re announcing today—nearly $1 billion in total—we’re helping modernize 125 airports across the country in order to make their operations safer, more accessible, and more convenient for travelers.”
Many grants contain an element that will build new or expanded terminal facilities. Tampa International Airport, for example, was awarded $40 million to connect Terminal D to the main terminal with an automated people mover and add nine passenger boarding bridges to move passengers through more efficiently.
Other notable awards include $33.2 million to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to fund a portion of the new Midfield Terminal B construction project; $15 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah to fund phase 4 of the Airport Redevelopment Program for construction of approximately 16 new gates as part of the Concourse B expansion; $10 million to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana to fund a portion of the terminal reconstruction and expansion project; and $3.6 million to Des Moines International Airport in Iowa to construct four new terminal gates and a waiting area.
