U.S. Government Billion Dollar Airport Funding
The aviation industry has been on quite the roller coaster ride these past few years. Emerging from the fairly healthy 2010s, the industry was chugging along before Covid came and emptied out their airplanes. Since then it has been a wild ride where we have gone from fields full of parked airplanes to epic meltdowns during peak travel times. It’s clear that more people want to travel now than ever.
And with air traffic reaching pre-pandemic levels, the Biden Administration is looking to help out by awarding nearly $1 billion in funds from the infrastructure bill to 99 airports of “all shapes and sizes” across the United States. According to the government, “The funding helps meet the growing demand for air travel and invests in key areas to help get travelers in and out of airports more quickly and improve the passenger experience by investing in new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints and improved ground transportation.”
New/Improved Terminals
Last year 85 airports were awarded $1 billion for improvements and this money comes in addition to that. Additionally a lot of the money is to be used for new or expanded terminal facilities. Here are some of the more interesting projects:
- $10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport – Replace the 1948 terminal which is at end of life and over caapcity
- $29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport – Funding a portion of phase 4 of their new terminal including 16 new gates
Improving the Passenger Experience
In addition to major terminal projects, the government is awarding money that is aimed to improve the passenger experience at airports across the country. From expanded security checkpoints to better ticket areas, this money is aimed to make things simpler, quicker and easier for travelers. Here are some of the notable projects:
- $50 million to Chicago O’Hare – Rehab terminal 3 including reconfigured TSA, improvements to the central passenger corridor and an updated baggage system
- $16 million to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – Relocate security checkpoint 1 to improve capacity and reduce wait times
- $38 million to Baltimore/Washington International – Fund a portion of concourse A & B expansions including baggage improvements, a direct airside connection between concourses and modernized amenities
You can find more info on these and the other projects funded here.
Our Airports Have Fallen Behind
While a discussion like this could get political, it really doesn’t need to be. Air transportation is a vital part of our economy and having competitive airports is very important. America benefited from being early in the adoption of air travel, but that also means we now have aging facilities that are past their prime. When traveling to other countries it becomes evidently clear that our airports need some help.
The flying experience has remained largely the same over the past couple of decades, but tons of improvements to tech, terminal layouts and overall comfort have come into the industry during that time. We have all experienced the difference between a nice airport and one that is operating in a way it was never designed to. While this $1 billion won’t solve every problem, it will help bolster the aviation industry which is an important thing.
U.S. Government Billion Dollar Airport Funding – Bottom Line
The U.S. government is handing out around $1 billion in funds to 99 airports across the country to modernize them and improve the passenger experience. From large airports like Chicago O’ Hare to smaller airports in places like Ashley, North Dakota the money is getting spread out. You can find a full list of airports and projects in this government release.
What do you think of these projects?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now
bonus_miles_full
Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Shawn.. just curious as to why you do a “bottom line”? We just read what you wrote and you think we need a summary? I’ve seen another blogger do this as well.
From a writing stand point, I’m curious as to the purpose of this?