These U.S. Airports Have Secured Millions for Significant Upgrades

The Biden administration is allocating nearly $1 billion to 85 airports for terminal expansions and upgrades, funded by last year’s major infrastructure bill.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that these initiatives will cater to future travel demands and enhance the safety and efficiency of flying.

“It's hard to argue that the current airport system and funding levels across America have been sufficient,” Buttigieg remarked to reporters.

The grants revealed on Thursday mark the initial release of $5 billion designated for airport improvements from an infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden last November.

The most substantial grants from the Federal Aviation Administration include:

• Boston Logan International Airport: $62 million to update aging infrastructure such as roadways, renovate Terminal E, and expand the baggage claim area.
• Denver International Airport: $60 million to enhance the terminal, boost energy efficiency, accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, and overhaul the baggage handling system.
• Orlando International Airport, Florida: $50 million to enlarge Terminal C, increase passenger capacity, and achieve LEED certification.
• Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C.: $49.6 million to create a new concourse with 14 gates.
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: $35 million to establish a zero-carbon electrical plant aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
• Pittsburgh International Airport: $20 million to construct a new 700,000-square-foot terminal adjacent to the existing one.
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: $15 million for enhancing passenger capacity and energy-efficient systems.
• Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina: $15 million for a new air traffic control tower.
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport: $14.4 million to transform an existing temporary terminal into a permanent five-gate terminal.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: $10 million for a restroom modernization initiative.

The FAA reported that 532 airports submitted applications for 658 projects, which would have exceeded $14 billion in total funding if all had been approved.

Historically, federal funds have primarily been allocated for runways, taxiways, and control towers, while airports financed terminal upgrades through passenger facility charges (PFCs)—up to $4.50 added to each airline ticket.

Buttigieg stated that it is acceptable to utilize taxpayer funds for projects typically financed by passenger fees, emphasizing that "there is a demand; taxpayers expect it and want it."

Next year, Congress may look into increasing ticket taxes to fund airport projects. While airports are in favor of raising these fees, airlines oppose the idea.