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10 Airports Getting up to $40 Million for Upgrades (Is Yours on the List?)

Fly friendlier skies now that your favorite airports are getting federal money for upgrades.

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Updated Oct. 1, 2024
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The federal government is pouring money into projects to improve airports nationwide.

Cities are receiving millions of dollars to build new air terminals, update air traffic control towers, or improve airport access.

Your airport could be the next one spruced up as part of the Investing in America plan. If you intend to step up your travel game this year, see if an airport on your itinerary made the list.

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Hector International Airport

Halfpoint/Adobe senior man in wheelchair at airport

Funding: $10 million

Hector International Airport in Fargo, North Dakota, needs some updating to get it into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

In addition, funds will go to improving lighting, expanding ticketing areas, and adding four new gates.

Duluth International Airport

zimmytws/Adobe james oberstar terminal

Funding: $10 million

Duluth will use the funds it receives from the federal government to update its air traffic control tower, which was built in 1963.

Punta Gorda Airport

flowertiare/Adobe man in a blue suit holding passport and waiting for his turn at airport

Funding: $10 million

The Punta Gorda Airport in Punta Gorda, Florida, will use federal funding for its terminal rehabilitation and expansion project. Part of that effort will include renovating the airport’s security checkpoint.

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Salt Lake City International Airport

eqroy/Adobe  airplanes from Delta Airlines

Funding: $20 million

The airport in Salt Lake City will use federal funds to add 16 gates as part of the expansion of its Concourse B terminal at the airport.

Denver International Airport

donyanedomam/Adobe denver international airport

Funding: $26.6 million

Another of the busiest airports in the U.S. will get an upgrade: The Denver airport will use funding to improve the baggage handling system, increasing capacity and making it more efficient.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

John Hamrick/Wirestock Creators/Adobe charlotte international airport

Funding: $27 million

One of the biggest changes to the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be upgrades to boarding bridges for passengers at 16 gates.

San Francisco International Airport

Roby2/Wirestock Creators/Adobe facade of san francisco international airport

Funding: $31 million

Even airports need to upgrade their HVAC systems: The federal money headed to San Francisco will update mechanical and electrical components to make them safer and more energy-efficient.

Los Angeles International Airport

Markus Mainka/Adobe los angeles international airport

Funding: $31 million

Los Angeles is known for its traffic issues, but federal funding for LAX might reduce some of those issues at the airport.

The airport will use federal funding to expand surrounding roads and stormwater containment systems.

Washington Dulles International Airport

Nate Hovee/Adobe jet age terminal building

Funding: $35 million

Dulles Airport in northern Virginia will receive an additional 400,000 square feet of terminal space, which will connect to the Metrorail and the Aerotrain.

In recent years, the Metrorail’s Silver Line added stations that reached into the suburbs of northern Virginia, including Dulles.

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Chicago O'Hare International Airport

jovannig/Adobe chicago ohare international airport

Funding: $40 million

O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the U.S. It will use government funds for improvements such as expanding the luggage system and reconfiguring TSA checkpoints in Terminal 3.

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Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.