- The FAA announced over $2 billion in grants to enhance airport safety, efficiency, and sustainability, funding 581 projects across 48 states and territories.
- Major projects include $55 million for runway upgrades at Tucson International, $29 million for zero-emission infrastructure at St. Louis Lambert International, and $42 million for wildlife protection at Deadhorse Airport.
- The funding round is the largest AIP history and includes efforts to address harmful PFAS chemicals in airports.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled over $2 billion in grants to improve airport infrastructure nationwide. This investment strengthens aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The grants focus on enhancing airport safety, operational upgrades, noise reduction, and advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects.
The funding includes $1.9 billion for 519 projects under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $269 million for 62 projects through the AIP’s Supplemental Discretionary Grants, with a timeline from fiscal years 2023 to 2025.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the initiative, saying the grants will make airports safer and more efficient for travellers and workers. Central allocations include $55 million for runway improvements at Tucson International Airport in Arizona, $29 million for zero-emission infrastructure at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, and $42 million for drainage and wildlife protection at Deadhorse Airport in Alaska.
Under the AIP’s supplemental grants, San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in California will receive $18 million for safety enhancements. Kahului Airport in Hawaii will upgrade apron lighting with a $14.3 million grant, while Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana will install SAF infrastructure using $1.3 million in funding.
The FAA has approved 581 grants benefiting airports across 48 states and US territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Micronesia. This marks the most significant funding round in AIP history and the first to directly address the issue of harmful chemicals from per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly found in firefighting foam.
San Luis Obispo County Airport in California will receive $3.5 million to test PFAS remediation technologies. In comparison, Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts will use $1.2 million to explore hydrothermal alkaline treatment for PFAS-contaminated water.
This new funding builds on a $636 million round of grants announced last month, which focused on modernising US airports. Both initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing aviation infrastructure while promoting sustainability and safety innovations.