U S Airport Infrastructure Funding And Financing

Passenger air travel is at an all-time high, and airports are investing in the infrastructure needed to meet demand. This report contains a comprehensive review of the role of the federal government in airport infrastructure funding and financing.

This report presents the results of ACRP project 11-03, S01-01. It explores alternative financing options and revenue sources currently available or that could be available in the future to airport operators, stakeholders, and policymakers in the United States. The report examines common capital funding sources used by airport operators, a reviews capital financing mechanisms used by airports, describes various revenue sources developed by airport operators, and a reviews privatization options available to U.S. airport operators.

" U.S. airports are important contributors to the U.S. economy, providing mobility for people and goods both domestically and internationally and often contributing to the economic success of the communities served. Since 2007 when GAO last reported on airport funding and its sufficiency to meet planned development of airport infrastructure, there have been significant changes in the aviation industry. During this time, federal support for airport development has declined. As deliberations begin in advance of FAA's reauthorization in 2015, Congress will consider the most appropriate type, level, and distribution of federal support for development of the national airport system. This testimony discusses trends in (1) aviation activity at airports since 2007, (2) costs of airports' planned development, and (3) federal funding and airport revenues that may be available to finance development costs. This testimony is based on previous GAO reports on aviation from June 2007 through June 2014, updated through June 2014 with interviews with key FAA and trade association officials and FAA airport funding data from 2005-2013. GAO shared the information it used to prepare this statement with FAA and incorporated its comments as"

This report answers the following questions about airports' capital development projects: (1) How much are airports of various sizes spending on capital development and where is the money coming from? (2) If current funding levels continue, will they be sufficient to meet capital development planned for the 5-year period from 1997 through 2001?; and (3) If a difference exists between current funding and planned development, what is the potential effect of various proposals to increase airport funding? Includes testimony by Gerald Dillingham, Assoc. Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Div., General Accounting Office.

Testimony presented before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation on June 23, 2021.