Airport Alert: President Trump Signs Coronavirus Relief Package with $10 Billion for Airports

President Trump this afternoon signed into law a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package that includes $10 billion for airports struggling to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, gives them much-needed flexibility on how to spend those funds, and does away with the local match requirement. Trump signed the bill into law in the Oval Office several hours after the House passed it earlier today.

 

In addition to the $10 billion in aid to airports, the measure provides $100 million for TSA to spend, in part, on "cleaning and sanitation at checkpoints and airport common areas"; and makes available $56 million in additional funding for the Essential Air Service program. See our Airport Alert for a summary of the airport and airline provisions in the bill.

 

With today's enactment of the third coronavirus relief package, our attention now turns to the FAA, which will be responsible for distributing the airport funding in the bill. AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli today wrote FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging the agency to distribute the emergency coronavirus funding to airports as quickly as possible and with as few strings attached as possible.