The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748, Public Law 116-136) ( PDF ), signed into law on March 27, 2020, includes $10 billion in funds to be awarded as economic relief to eligible U.S. airports affected by the prevention of, preparation for, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CARES Act provides funds to increase the federal share to 100 percent for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and supplemental discretionary grants already planned for fiscal year 2020. Under normal circumstances, AIP grant recipients contribute a matching percentage of the project costs. Providing this additional funding and eliminating the local share will allow critical safety and capacity projects to continue as planned regardless of airport sponsors’ current financial circumstances.
Additionally, the CARES Act provides new funds distributed by various formulas for all airports that are part of the national airport system. This includes all commercial service airports, all reliever airports and some public-owned general aviation airports.
Under this new CARES Airport Program:
The FAA made these funds available in April. Airport sponsors that wish to request reimbursement for development costs should now work with their local Office of Airports field office to apply for a CARES Act Airport Development Addendum to its initial CARES Act Airport Grant. The FAA will continue to update CARES Act Airport Grants -- Frequently Asked Questions, as needed.
