The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has commended the recent release of $1 billion USD in grants by the Biden Administration to fund crucial projects that aim to enhance air travel, boost travel demand, and improve the passenger experience. This funding, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in November 2021, will be accessible to 99 airports of varying sizes and locations in 47 states and two municipalities across the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement of the grant emphasizes that it will aid in meeting the growing demand for air travel by investing in key areas, such as new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints, improved ground transportation, and increased terminal sustainability and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The project funds aim to optimize air travel systems to meet modern needs and provide an improved passenger experience, which is vital for the U.S. business travel industry.

According to GBTA’s pre-pandemic research, domestic trips in the U.S. reached 515 million annually, of which almost 30% included air travel, making air travel a crucial component of business travel for the U.S. Business travellers took more than 144 million flights each year, highlighting the importance of air travel for the industry and the economy.

Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, said, “Business travel is on pace for continued recovery, but for the industry and overall economy to truly take off and grow sustainably, we need air travel systems that are optimized to meet modern needs. These grants provide for expanded capabilities to meet the sustainability, accessibility, and improved passenger experience that is required by today’s business travel community and travelers overall.”

GBTA is also calling on the U.S. Congress to rapidly pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) long-term re-authorization, set to expire in September 2023, to ensure the continued implementation of NextGen programs and the upgrading of the air traffic control system. This will provide support and stability to the FAA, the aviation industry, and the travelling public, enabling them to navigate these challenges with confidence.

In conclusion, GBTA’s commendation of the Biden Administration’s grant release highlights the importance of air travel for the U.S. business travel industry and the economy as a whole. The grant aims to enhance the passenger experience and improve air travel systems to meet modern needs. GBTA’s call to action for the U.S. Congress to pass the FAA’s long-term re-authorization demonstrates their commitment to the travel eco-system continual improvement.

Written by: Matthew Thomas

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