The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, applauds the Biden Administration’s release of $1 billion USD in grants to fund critically needed projects that facilitate air travel, increased travel demand, and an enhanced passenger experience.

This funding, a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in November 2021, will be available to 99 airports of various sizes and locations in 47 states and two municipalities across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement highlights that the funding will aid in meeting “the growing demand for air travel and invests in key areas to help get travelers in and out of airports more quickly and improve the passenger experience by investing in new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints and improved ground transportation.” Additionally, the project funds will help increase terminal sustainability and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Air travel and movement of passengers is a core issue for GBTA and the 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 – second only to personal vehicles. This means that business travelers took more than 144 million flights each year, making air travel a critical component of business travel for the U.S.

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. Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA

To advance improvements for the traveler and the travel eco-system, 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 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 traveling public, enabling them to navigate these challenges with confidence.

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit GBTAFoundation.org. 

Debbie Iannaci
GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research
+1 305 301 7057
GBTA