WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) – According to its own statements, the US government is investing almost one billion US dollars (980 million euros) in the expansion of airport terminals. The Office of the President announced on Thursday that 85 airports across the country would be funded. Building better terminals would benefit air passengers, ensure more efficient freight transport and make the USA more competitive. Among other things, the money should be used to expand capacities and increase energy efficiency.
“America is the country that brought the modern age of aviation to the world,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Nevertheless, in global comparisons of quality, there is usually no US airport among the top 25. “We have to change that.” As the US recovers from the pandemic, passenger numbers are picking up again. “Our country depends economically on air travel to move both goods and people around the country and the world. And we’ve seen airports and airlines struggle to keep up with demand.”
The funds come from the infrastructure package that Congress approved in November. Investments in infrastructure of around 550 billion dollars are planned over the next few years. They are to be used for roads, bridges, ports, airports, local transport and the railways, as well as for the expansion of fast Internet connections, the power grid and the water supply. The package is one of President Joe Biden’s most important projects./cy/DP/jha