Large U.S. airports received 10% of the 2,059 airport infrastructure grants that the Federal Aviation Administration awarded in 2006, but they accounted for 33% of the grant program’s $3.41 billion in obligated funds, the agency says. The numbers were about the same in 2005 when large and medium hubs got 10% of the airport grants, but 35% of the $3.42 billion obligated.
FAA’s most recent annual report on the Airport Improvement Program, posted Aug. 29 on its Website, also shows that the top five states for AIP dollars last year were California, with $307 million; Texas, $254 million; Alaska, $221 million; Illinois, $157 million; and Florida, $152 million.