FAA closes out airport grant program with $870M round

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to invest $870 million in airport infrastructure projects across the U.S., according to an Aug. 4 news release. The agency will distribute 339 grants to airports in 44 states and two territories through the Airport Infrastructure Grants program, which sits inside the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FAA calls this round the fifth and final installment of $2.89 billion in fiscal 2026 airport funding.

A notable award is $289.35 million for Los Angeles International Airport, earmarked for a new terminal access road. Miami International gets $50 million for terminal roof reconstruction. Denver International receives $69.11 million and Chicago O'Hare gets $47.89 million, both for taxiway reconstruction, according to the project award list.

The grants land as the IIJA enters the final months of its five-year authorization period. Since fiscal 2022, Airport Infrastructure Grants funding has provided $14.5 billion for runway and taxiway rehabilitation, terminal and baggage system upgrades, roadway improvements and other safety-related infrastructure. In fiscal 2026, up to $2.39 billion is set aside for primary airports and up to $500 million for nonprimary airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in the release that the work aims to give American families a more seamless, efficient travel experience from regional hubs to the busiest airports.

The final round closes out a five-year federal capital program just as the next multibillion-dollar authorization fight begins. Airport operators and the firms that build for them will be watching whether the next infrastructure bill keeps this pipeline full.