Overview
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law on November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58). BIL authorized $25 billion over five fiscal years (FY2022–FY2026) for airport infrastructure, allocated across three programs:
| Program | Total Authorization | Distribution Method | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) | $15 billion | Formula (allocated to NPIAS airports) | Variable per year |
| Airport Terminal Program (ATP) | $5 billion | Competitive (discretionary) | ~$1 billion/year |
| FAA Air Traffic Facilities | $5 billion | FAA Air Traffic Organization | ~$1 billion/year |
AIG and ATP are the two programs directly available to airport sponsors. The FAA Air Traffic Facilities program funds improvements to FAA-owned facilities and is administered by the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), not by airport sponsors.
Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG)
How AIG Works
AIG is a formula-based grant program. Every airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) receives an annual allocation calculated based on passenger volume, cargo weight, and general aviation activity. Unlike AIP discretionary grants or ATP, AIG allocations do not require a competitive application â€" the funds are assigned to each airport automatically.
The FAA has released five annual installments of AIG allocations. FY2023 enplaned passenger growth was 10.0%, compared to the five-year average of 3.2% for FY2019–2023 (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, accessed February 2026):
| Fiscal Year | Allocation Released | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | December 16, 2021 | $1.04 billion |
| FY2023 | November 29, 2022 | $2.32 billion |
| FY2024 | November 16, 2023 | $2.64 billion |
| FY2025 | November 19, 2024 | ~$2.89 billion |
| FY2026 | October 27, 2025 | ~$2.89 billion |
The fifth and final installment (~$2.89 billion for FY2026) was released on October 27, 2025.
Eligible Uses
AIG funds can be used for any project eligible under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) or the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program. This includes:
- Runway, taxiway, and apron construction and rehabilitation
- Terminal development
- Airport planning and environmental studies
- Safety and security improvements
- Noise compatibility projects
- Sustainability projects
- Airport-transit connections and roadway projects
Federal Cost Share
AIG grants carry a federal share of 95% for small hub, nonhub, and nonprimary airports. Large- and medium-hub airports receive a federal share of 80% for terminal development projects and 90% for most other eligible projects, as established under IIJA Section 71001.
Expiration Deadlines
AIG allocations expire four years after the fiscal year in which they are appropriated. This creates a series of deadlines:
| Allocation Year | Expiration |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | End of FY2026 (September 30, 2026) — expires September 30, 2026 |
| FY2023 | September 30, 2027 |
| FY2024 | September 30, 2028 |
| FY2025 | September 30, 2029 |
| FY2026 | September 30, 2030 |
The FY2023 deadline of September 30, 2027 is the next statutory expiration date. Any airport that has not obligated its FY2023 AIG allocation under a grant agreement by that date will lose those funds.