Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, and seventeen other organizations, sent a letter to congressional leaders calling for an extension to aviation funding programs authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), and the Air Traffic Facilities (ATF) program.
Key excerpts include:
“Over the past five years, the federal government has invested $25 billion to improve the national airspace system: $20 billion for airport infrastructure, including airfield upgrades, terminal development, and airport-owned control towers; and $5 billion for FAA facility upgrades. These investments have expanded capacity, modernized aging infrastructure, and supported economic growth in communities nationwide.”
“Airports, the traveling public, and air cargo all depend on strong connectivity with the surface transportation modes authorized under that same legislation. With current authorities set to expire on September 30, 2026, and legislative time running short, we ask for your leadership in extending all IIJA programs…”
“Airports are central to the U.S. economy, supporting 12.8 million jobs, $619 billion in annual payroll, and $1.8 trillion in economic output. With enplanements projected to reach 1 billion this year—and to grow significantly in the decades ahead—the need for modern, resilient infrastructure will only intensify. ACI-NA estimates that U.S. airports require nearly $175 billion in infrastructure investment through 2029.”
Read the full letter here.
