Tester Announces More Than $1 Million for Billings Logan International Airport

Grant to improve safety, expand terminal will help #ConnectMT

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester has secured more than $1 million in federal funding to help the Billings Logan International Airport expand its terminal and improve safety by purchasing new aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment. 

The $1,017,825 grant was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and comes on the heels of a $2 million grant Tester secured for the airport last year.

“In a state as big as Montana, air travel is critical to keeping folks connected and this grant will make air travel in and out of Billings quicker, safer, and more reliable than ever,” Tester said. “Whether it’s by increasing tourism, facilitating business, or helping families and friends stay connected, our airports make our way of life possible.”

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Tester worked hard to reauthorize the Airport Improvement Program through last year’s FAA Reauthorization Act. And then, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured an additional $500 million in funding for the Airport Improvement Program in the 2019 budget bill.

“This is welcomed news,” said Director of Aviation and Transit Kevin Ploehn. “These federal funds are needed to upgrade the Airport’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) equipment and to pay for some of the initial work on the new Terminal Expansion project. We are now able to get both of these projects moving forward.”

Tester’s #ConnectMT initiative seeks to connect folks across Big Sky Country-both online and in person-by investing in Montana’s physical and digital infrastructure. Tester helped secure more than $20 million in AIP grants for Montana’s airports last year and has already secured more than $30 million in AIP funding this year. He also recently secured Essential Air Service funding in the February budget bill he is pushing members on both sides of the aisle to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package to repair roads, invest in air travel, and improve access to broadband in Montana.