America’s airports and industry projects are set to benefit from an investment package worth around $1 billion from the federal government.
Sustainability and modernization
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the U.S. administration is making 114 Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIGs) to 44 states plus the three US territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.
The Airport Terminal Program’s focus, which has bipartisan support, is on sustainability and modernizing passenger facilities to better meet the needs of today’s flyers.
Meeting everyone’s needs
The passenger experience has been a relentless bugbear for travelers in the United States. Passenger numbers have surged since Covid-19, with pared back carriers, airports and air traffic control struggling to handle figures in line with and beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Coming on top of $2 billion in airport development funding over 24 months, and with a historic $25 billion overall for U.S. airport infrastructure, the awards signal the determination of the federal government to improve facilities on the ground.
Improvements already achieved under the increased funding include additional gates to cater to the increase in passenger numbers, as well as wider concourse areas, and alignments with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
A flight doesn’t begin just when you settle into your seat on board. First, you’re in the terminal, and your experience depends in many ways on the conditions of that terminal building.
Pete Buttigieg, United States Secretary of Transportation.
Among the beneficiaries are a number of major international airports, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Both American and United Airlines have hubs there and, with the new funding, it gets $40 million to make upgrades to Terminal 3, including a new security checkpoint, and improved baggage handling facilities.
Meanwhile $38 million will fund concourse expansions at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where passenger transfers will be made easier between Concourses A and B, among other work.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington will put $16 million towards changing the ticket and baggage claim levels to reduce queuing and enhance screening capacity, as well as meeting ADA and energy efficiency standards.
Sustainability winner
With sustainability high on the agenda, one big winner is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas, with an award of $35 million. Terminal D’s Energy Efficiency Enhancement program will see a replacement eco-roof on top of overhauled HVAC systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Windows get the smart treatment with dimmable tech.
Not only that but the airport gets funding to implement the second phase of its Zero Carbon Electric Central Utility Plant (eCUP), which will put it within spitting distance of its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
An array of regional airports, including Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) in Maine and Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) in Florida, are among recipients too, with construction and expansion high up the smaller airports’ wishlists.
