SPI Insights

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on April 14 announced the award of about $10 billion to commercial and general aviation airports from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program.

USDOT’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ready to deliver CARES Act grants in April to eligible airports throughout the nation. The grants will provide economic relief to airports around the country affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta will receive $338.53 million, the largest funding amount among U.S. airports.

Some of the airports receiving large payments are Los Angeles International with $323.63 million, San Francisco with $254.78 million, and San Diego with $91.22 million.

Texas airports are set to receive more than $810 million with Dallas-Fort Worth collecting $299.2 million and George Bush getting $149.19 million.

Denver’s airport is set to receive $269.07 million, Chicago O’Hare will get $294.44 million, Phoenix Sky Harbor will get $147.88 million, Boston’s Logan airport will collect $141.34 million, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County will get $141.88 million.

New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports will receive $193.39 million and $102.93 million, respectively. Miami at $206.95 million, Orlando at 170.7 million, and Fort Lauderdale at $134.96 million top the list of Florida airports receiving funds.
McCarran International in Las Vegas was awarded $195.49 million, Seattle-Tacoma – $192.13 million, Newark Liberty – $147.52 million, Washington-Dulles – $143.39 million, Charlotte-Douglas airport in North Carolina – $135.57 million, Minneapolis-St. Paul airport – $125.17 million, and Philadelphia – $116.28 million.

This funding will support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the decline in passenger traffic and other airport business due to the pandemic. The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.

The CARES Act also provides funds to increase the federal share to 100 percent for grants awarded under the fiscal year 2020 appropriations for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Supplemental Discretionary grants. Under normal circumstances, AIP grant recipients contribute a matching percentage of the project costs.