As per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, American airlines handled 194 million more passengers in 2022 than in 2021, a 30% increase year on year. In 2022, from January through December, US airlines transported 853 million passengers (unadjusted), up from 658 million in 2021 and 388 million in 2020.

It is easy to say that Americans now prefer to travel by air to other modes of transport. Thus, there is a growing pressure on airports, which were not built to accommodate such a high volume of passengers and flights. 

The United States has already committed about $2 billion to airport enhancements, increasing the total investment since 2022 to approximately $3 billion.

The most current investment round comes from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation projects established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. 

According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), the grant funds of $1 billion will be used to modernize airport terminals in 44 states and three territories to accommodate rising air travel demand. The money will be distributed throughout the country, as only six states (out of 50 total) were excluded from the most recent round of grant funding.

The projects were separated into different segments:

New/Expansion of Airport

1. $35 million to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia
2. $20 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah
3. $10 million to Hector International Airport in Fargo, North Dakota

Improving Passenger Experience

1. $40 million to Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Illinois
2. $26.6 million to Denver International Airport in Colorado
3. $8.6 million to Kahului Airport in Hawaii
4. $7.5 million to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky
5. $2 million to Spokane International Airport in Washington
6. 1.5 million to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska

Transportation and Roadways Improvement

1. $31 million to Los Angeles International Airport in California
2. $8 million to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida
3. $7 million to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana

Improvement of Air-traffic Control Facilities

1. $10 million to Duluth International Airport in Minnesota
2. $5.4 million to Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland
3. $4.5 million to Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas

Sustainable Air Travel

1. $31 million to San Francisco International Airport in California
2. $27 million to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina
3. $3.4 million to Appleton International Airport in Wisconsin

This investment will improve the travel experience for passengers and increase safety while addressing environmental concerns and creating employment opportunities. Jobs will be created for contractors during the build phase, while non-build employment will provided in the post-construction phase.

“Today’s funding not only helps modernise airports to meet the needs of travellers today – and for years to come – but also creates good-paying job opportunities in communities both large and small,” explained FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E.

Contractor News has been reporting on the different airport expansion and modernization projects happening across the country. Follow us to stay updated.