As demand for air travel grows, almost every state in the nation will receive money to help modernize airports, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday.

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the agency will provide 296 grants worth $566 million in infrastructure grants for airport and air traffic control improvements.

What You Need To Know

  • The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that airports in 47 states will receive money for modernization

  • Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the agency will provide $566 million in infrastructure grants for airport and air traffic control improvements

  • The grants will be used to ensure safety, efficiency and sustainability

  • The most recent American Society of Civil Engineer's infrastructure report card in 2021 gave the nation's airports a D+ grade

“As Americans fly in record numbers, the Biden-Harris Administration is improving our nation’s airports to make travel more convenient for passengers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement about the grants awarded to projects in 47 states.

The grants will be used to “make needed improvements to ensure safety, efficiency and sustainability for years to come,” he said. 

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington will receive $45.4 million for structural, seismic and building system upgrades to one of its concourses. The Charlotte/Douglas International airport in North Carolina will receive $45.3 million to build a deicing pad, taxiways, aircraft parking areas and lighting and signage that meets the most current FAA standards.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International airport in Kentucky will receive $34.6 million to expand one of its terminals and add a TSA checkpoint, as well as to build a solar microgrid and emergency generator. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International airport in Louisiana will receive $13.5 million for a new people mover that will move passengers more efficiently.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ most recent report card for the country’s infrastructure in 2021, aviation rated a D+. When the society released its report card, the greatest issues facing the nation’s 3,000+ airports were capacity challenges.

Terminal, gate and ramp availability was not meeting the needs of a growing passenger base, the AFSCE report said. The largest portion of investments needed to upgrade the nation’s airports were for airport terminal buildings, followed by airfield pavement maintenance.

The International Air Transport Association said domestic air traffic in 2023 was 3.9% higher than in 2019. The association expects 2024 air travel to exceed pre-pandemic levels by even greater margins.