ACI-NA Applauds Major Airport Financing and Policy Wins in House Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill

May 18, 2026

WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today welcomed the inclusion of several key airport priorities in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

“Airports are more than terminals and runways.  Airports are multimodal transportation hubs that connect passengers, cargo, employees, and commerce while driving regional economic growth,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “This legislation gives airports greater access to innovative financing tools needed to deliver critical transportation infrastructure projects that keep people and goods moving efficiently. Restoring the TIFIA for Airports program is a significant victory for airports and the communities they serve. We appreciate Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and the Committee for recognizing the essential role airports play in the nation’s transportation network. We thank Representatives Hurd and Garamendi for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the TIFIA for Airports provision.”

The BUILD AMERICA 250 Act would extend the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) for Airports program through 2031 and continue reserving up to 15 percent of total TIFIA funding for airport projects. Originally established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the program has become a key financing tool for airports undertaking new infrastructure projects.

The legislation would also establish a new grant program to support transportation planning and infrastructure needs associated with major international sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games. In addition, the bill would make the surface transportation components of airport projects eligible under the new Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant (STAG) program.

Together, these provisions underscore the critical role airports play in the nation’s transportation system and provide new tools to help airports modernize infrastructure, improve connectivity, and meet growing passenger and cargo demands.

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About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.