As U.S. airports move deeper into a historic era of federal funding and infrastructure advancement, a new analysis of data from 2023 to 2025 reveals a clear trajectory: capital investments are on the rise, and funding participation is broadening, particularly among general aviation airports.
Based on annual infrastructure surveys published by Airport Business from 2023 through 2025, the data signals notable shifts in both funding behavior and project priorities across the airport landscape. The findings reflect a sector continuing to recalibrate for long-term growth while adapting to changing federal programs and evolving passenger needs.
General aviation airports are driving some of the most significant change. These facilities saw a 35 percent increase in average capital budgets over the past three years, rising from an estimated $1.25 million in 2023 to nearly $1.7 million in 2025. The growth corresponds with a sharp uptick in funding activity: 92 percent of general aviation airports reported applying for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants in 2025, up from 65 percent in 2023.
Participation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) program has also increased among general aviation airports, with 67 percent planning to apply in 2025 compared to unspecified levels in previous years. In contrast, commercial airports reported a decline in BIL interest from 47 percent in 2023 to 36 percent in 2024.
Terminal renovation remains a top concern industrywide. The percentage of airports expecting to renovate their terminals within five years rose steadily, from 56 percent in 2023 to nearly 65 percent by 2025. This trend underscores the continued focus on improving passenger experience, addressing capacity constraints, and modernizing aging infrastructure.
Capital budgets for commercial airports remained strong across the board, averaging more than $30 million per year since 2023. While exact figures for 2025 were not available in the most recent survey, data modeling based on funding activity suggests that average spending has held steady, with commercial hubs maintaining large-scale investments in terminals, baggage systems and airfield upgrades.
Despite a sustained focus on core infrastructure, sustainability-oriented improvements such as microgrid development and electrification master planning have not yet reached the mainstream. Adoption remains limited, though interest appears to be growing. Airport leaders report watching these trends closely, but implementation is often constrained by cost, complexity and local climate considerations.
One area of planning that appears to be gaining momentum is master planning. According to the 2025 data, more than 40 percent of airports are preparing to undertake or update a master plan within the next five years, with a subset already underway. While many anticipate updates in the 5–8-year window, this still indicates strong intent to align future infrastructure investments with operational forecasts and federal funding opportunities.
Meanwhile, preparation for servicing electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) aircraft remains in its infancy. Only 3.7 percent of airports surveyed in 2025 report being ready for EVTOL operations. This suggests the broader industry sees EVTOL as a long-term horizon item rather than an immediate infrastructure need, although awareness is clearly rising.
The data also reveals a shift in how airports utilize funding tools. AIP funding, once used more selectively by general aviation airports, has now become foundational to infrastructure planning. Similarly, BIL applications are being used not only for critical repairs but for future-focused investments that would not have been feasible under previous budget structures.
As airports of all sizes prepare for the next phase of growth and modernization, the years 2023 to 2025 offer a benchmark for assessing readiness, identifying investment gaps and understanding how peer airports are aligning their capital programs with federal priorities.
