WASHINGTON– Today, Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4), and Jahana Hayes (CT-5) – were joined by Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) Executive Director Kevin Dillon in announcing that Connecticut’s airports have been awarded more than $8.8 million in federal grant funding under the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the COVID-19 pandemic relief plan passed by Congress in December.

“COVID-19 has negatively impacted the airline industry and its workers. I’m proud that Connecticut’s airports are receiving this desperately needed funding through legislation we passed in December. As COVID-19 cases begin to drop and more people are vaccinated, these federal dollars will help keep our airports afloat and employees on payroll as people begin to travel again,” said Murphy.

“These federal grants will provide economic relief to thousands of Connecticut’s airport workers affected by the pandemic and ensure these transportation hubs continue to thrive,” said Blumenthal. “Coupled with a dramatic decline in travel, the pandemic placed immense sanitation and safety burdens on airports, completely upending their operations. I’m proud to have fought for these critically important funds for Connecticut’s airports to ensure the health and safety of workers and the traveling public, and to support their economic recovery.”

“These funds are critical to helping to get our economy moving again through our airports,” said Lamont. “This federal relief has served a vital role in providing needed investment and support in our communities, and these funds for our airports, especially those with commercial service, are beneficial to getting our state through this pandemic.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our state’s airports. I’m glad this relief from the CARES Act II that we passed in December is being awarded to Connecticut’s airports to help them weather this pandemic. This grant helps ensure that Bradley Airport remains a cornerstone of our region’s economic development. I will continue to work with the Connecticut delegation to ensure our state gets the support it needs,” said Larson.

“Great to see the support Congress authorized in December making its way to local airports in Connecticut,” said Courtney. “Airports have been among the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic, and airports like Bradley and Groton-New London don’t just employ thousands of workers of their own—they’re also integral to the success of our business sector at-large. We need them up and running in order to support our continued economic recovery, and we made sure H.R. 133 secured support for Bradley, Groton-New London, and for our other local airports. There’s more help on the way for eastern Connecticut, and I’ll keep working across the aisle to secure the assistance our region needs.”

“Supporting Connecticut’s airports will help us rebuild our economy,” said DeLauro. “I am thrilled that this funding, championed by the Connecticut delegation in Congress, will help our airports protect their staff and cover the costs of creating a safe environment for travelers. This is not the end of the coronavirus relief for our airports—more help is on the way. With my colleagues from Connecticut, I will continue to ensure that our transportation system and its hubs have the tools they need to build back better.”   

“It’s no secret that the airline industry has been hit hard by this pandemic,” said Himes. “The funds that are going out now to airports across Connecticut will help end the spread of the coronavirus and ease the burden on frontline workers.”

“I am pleased that Connecticut airports will benefit directly from the COVID relief packages passed by Congress,” said Hayes. “Passengers and revenue have dropped dramatically for these transportation hubs and this assistance will have a tremendous impact on our state. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to get Connecticut the resources it needs to recover from this pandemic.”

“The Connecticut Airport Authority would like to thank the state federal delegation for their hard work to provide this much-needed assistance to Connecticut’s airports,” said Dillon. “The past year has been devastating to the entire aviation industry, and this funding will help give a critical lifeline to the airports and stakeholders who are trying to keep our businesses solvent and our workers employed.”

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks has been awarded $7,910,063 in federal grant funding. This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. Bradley International Airport has also been awarded $711,832 in federal grant funding for concessionaires. This grant provides economic relief from rent and minimum annual guarantees to on-airport car rental, on-airport parking, and in-terminal concessions located at primary airports.

Groton-New London Airport has been awarded $57,162 in federal grant funding. The grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. This grant provides economic relief to cover lawful expenses to support Federal Aviation Administration contract tower operations.

Waterbury-Oxford Airport has been awarded $57,162 in federal grant funding This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. This grant also provides economic relief to cover lawful expenses to support Federal Aviation Administration contract tower operations.

Hartford-Brainard Airport has been awarded $47,162 in federal grant funding. This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. This grant also provides economic relief to cover lawful expenses to support Federal Aviation Administration contract tower operations.

Danielson Airport has been awarded $13,000 in federal grant funding. This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

Meriden Markham Municipal Airport has been awarded $13,000 in federal grant funding. This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

Windham Airport in Willimantic has been awarded $13,000 in federal grant funding. The grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

The American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden this week provides an additional $8 billion in federal grant funding for airport and airport concessions. Those funds, including additional funds for Connecticut’s airports, are expected to be distributed in the coming months.

###