Nearly $12 Million in FAA Funding Headed to Niagara Falls International Airport, Hochul Announces

Press Release

Standing at the Niagara Falls International Airport (NFIA) with Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) officials, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today announced that $11.7 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding will be coming to NFIA for the construction portion of the rehabilitation of the main runway.

"This runway investment will strengthen the role of the Niagara Falls International Airport as an economic catalyst for the Niagara region, and will put it in a position to serve thousands of more passengers every year," said Congresswoman Hochul. "This funding could have been used anywhere in the country, and I am proud to have helped direct these funds towards improvements at our airport, which will provide an important boost to our local economy."

"The NFTA truly appreciates all of the work that Congresswoman Hochul and the Federal Aviation Administration did to deliver this essential discretionary funding at the start of the construction season," said Henry M. Sloma, acting Chairman of the NFTA. "Rehabilitation of the airport's main runway will help the NFIA accommodate increases in commercial aviation and support vital military operations. This significant federal investment will help propel the airport's potential to the next level."

According to the 2010 New York State Department of Transportation Economic Impacts Report, NFIA has an annual economic impact of $158 million and an employment impact of 2,000 jobs. NFIA serves a market of 9.6 million people from Toronto, Canada to Erie, Pennsylvania and since 2009, the airport's annual passenger count has increased from just 1,000 to over 200,000.

Hochul added, "Between Allegiant's expansion and the federal investment announced today, I am confident that the Niagara Falls International Airport will be a key component in Western New York's economic development, and will serve as an international gateway to travelers and increase regional tourism revenues."

In February, Congresswoman Hochul called and wrote FAA Acting-Administrator Michael Huerta urging him to expedite the funding for this project.

Completion of the main runway project at the Niagara Falls International Airport will attract new and expanded investments in Western New York. The first expansion will be by Allegiant Air, which in conjunction with today's announcement, announced they would be expanding service from the Niagara Falls International Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Source