With Montana airports struggling to keep up with costs after\nthe COVID-19 pandemic brought air travel to a standstill, U.S. Senator Jon\nTester today successfully secured nearly $74 million to help 71 airports across\nthe Treasure State cover operational expenses, staffing, and certain\ndevelopment projects during the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMontanans rely on our small regional airports to connect\nour state to the rest of the country, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shut them down\nalmost entirely,\u201d Tester said. \u201cI\u2019m glad to have helped secure this funding at\na critical time\u2014it\u2019ll help local airports across the Treasure State keep up\nwith their day-to-day operations so that when this crisis is over, they can\ncontinue serving their communities and driving our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montana airports have seen an 80 percent drop in passengers\nsince the COVID-19 pandemic forced the vast majority of Americans to\nshelter-in-place. On top of this, airports are facing new demands on\noperations, uncertainties about their ability to pay down debt obligations or\ncomplete projects, doubt about their ability to retain staff, and increased\npressure to reduce costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tester successfully got this funding included in the\nCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act after he pressured\nthe Trump Administration to ensure rural airports did not get left behind in\nany COVID-19 relief packages. Airports will be able to use this funding for any\npurpose that airport revenue may legally be used, including operational\nexpenses and certain development projects. This funding will also require small\nhub airports receiving funding to retain 90 percent of employees through the\nend of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine Montana airports will receive more than $1 million in\ngrant funding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Billings Logan International Airport – $12,721,011<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport – $15,446,029<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bert Mooney Airport in Butte – $1,143,102<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Great Falls International Airport – $3,960,216<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helena Regional Airport – $2,999,713<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell –\n$11,572,182<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Missoula International Airport – $5,616,102<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sidney-Richland Regional Airport – $1,041,372<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yellowstone Airport in West Yellowstone – $17,889,095<\/p>\n\n\n\n