With airline travel plummeting more than 90% during the Covid-19 pandemic, airports have been hit hard. The good news is that Michigan is on the receiving end of $256 million in airport grants through the CARES Act.
The Federal Aviation Administration funding will support airports experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the pandemic. The grants will be distributed to airports to prevent, prepare for, and respond to impacts from the crisis. In total, more than 90 airports in Michigan will receive funding from the CARES Act.
Some of the airports receiving significant funding include Detroit Metropolitan slated to receive $141.8 million, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International receiving $19.1 million, Gerald R. Ford International in Grand Rapids receiving $16.2 million. Closer to home, Bishop International in Flint will receive $7.2 million.
St Clair County International Airport was not included in the grant funding. Based on preliminary assessments, the COVID-19 outbreak will cost U.S. airports at least $13.9 billion in the 2020 calendar year. This estimate is based on projections that traffic at U.S. commercial airports is expected to fall by 73% during the March to June period of this year.
Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn
