Press Releases

Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) announced $1,677,180 in federal funding for the Niagara Falls International Airport to invest in the airport’s airfield lighting and signage, and $136,047 for the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to support the renovation of its primary runway.

“This $1.8+ million in federal funding will help Niagara Falls International Airport & Buffalo Niagara International Airport keep our airport runways in top-notch shape, which is critical for both safety and efficiency” said Senator Schumer. “I fought hard to secure funding for airport safety projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs law because I know how crucial it is to ensure the safety of our airports for attracting business and tourism to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Together, we are ensuring that Western NY’s airports have the federal support they need to reach new heights and help our local economies take off.”

“Every day, passengers rely on Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport to fly out of and into Western New York, and it is vital that the infrastructure at the two airports is up-to-date to ensure safe travel,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This federal funding will help bring critical upgrades to the main runway at Buffalo Niagara International Airport and support upgrades to airfield signage and lighting at Niagara Falls International Airport, boosting aviation safety for Western New York travelers. I’m proud to have fought alongside Senator Schumer and Congressman Kennedy to secure this funding and will continue fighting to bring vital modernization and improvement efforts to airports across New York State.”

“The investments being made at the airports in Niagara Falls and Buffalo will ensure the safety of the traveling public, sustain our region’s growing tourism sector, and create good-paying union jobs,” Congressman Kennedy said. “At the Niagara Falls Airport, nearly $1.7 million will go toward upgrading the airfield’s lighting and signage that pilots rely on to do their jobs, and will ensure the continued safety of the servicemembers at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. At the Buffalo Niagara Airport, funding will support the completion of renovations of the airport’s primary runway, which will serve flyers for years to come. Thanks to federal investments like this, we are rebuilding our airports and investing in the long-term success of Western New York.”

BACKGROUND:

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP), through the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, provides grants to public agencies - and, in some cases, to private owners and entities - for the planning and development of public-use airports. Funds obligated for the AIP are drawn from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes, and other similar revenue sources.

Schumer, Gillibrand, and Kennedy fought to boost funding for the AIP in this year’s FAA reauthorization bill to revitalize airports and enhance airfield safety at airports. The AIP is one of the most widely used federal grants by Western NY airports in order to make critical modernization and safety upgrades.

Schumer, Gillibrand, and Kennedy have a long history of delivering funding to help improve the Niagara Falls International Airport and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Most recently, Schumer secured $7,532,740 for the Niagara Falls International Airport and $37,509,535 for the Buffalo Niagara International Airport over the next five years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs law.

At the Niagara Falls International Airport, $1,677,180 in funding from the AIP program will go toward reconstructing 166 existing airfield guidance signs, replacing the existing primary wind cone, and replacing the existing airport rotating beacon.

At the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, $136,047 will fund construction supervision to complete the renovation project of the primary runway, including rehabilitating the pavement to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.