US to award $335m for airport improvement works
The US Government is set to award $335m in grants for airport safety and improvement works.
The US Government is set to award $335m in grants for airport safety and improvement works.
The funding will be awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 80 airports across 25 states.
Overall, it will include $300m from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and $35m in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants to equal a 100% federal share.
Specifically, the investment will fund critical infrastructure and safety projects at the airports, including the construction and rehabilitation of runways and taxiways, the installation of aircraft lighting and signage, and the advancement of airport master plan studies.
The federal funding will also enable the airports to acquire aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment and carry out perimeter fencing works.
US Transportation Secretary Elaine L Chao said: “Airport infrastructure projects funded by this $335m in federal funding will advance safety, improve travel, generate jobs and provide other economic benefits for local communities.”
The move comes at a time when the aviation industry is struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, the US administration has provided $10bn in assistance to airports under the CARES Act in a bid to help them combat the current health emergency and related crisis.
Recently, it was reported that US lawmakers in the House of Representatives proposed a $14bn investment to support an airport trust fund. The fund is used for airport improvement works and other programmes.
The US has reported nearly seven million Covid-19 cases, making it the worst affected in the world. It also leads in fatality count, reporting more than 200,000 deaths.
