Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded $3,317,353.00 to the City of Laredo to fund improvements at the Laredo International Airport.  These funds will be used to support an ongoing project to rehabilitate the Laredo International Airport’s apron—enhancing airport safety, increasing the airport’s capacity to handle large aircrafts and ensuring that airport operations will continue to run efficiently and effectively.  Additionally, the funds will help reimburse the City of Laredo for costs expended on the Airport, including the construction of a new airport rescue and firefighting station. 

“This grant award to the Laredo International Airport benefits not just the airport but our whole community, because more cargo and visitors in South Texas means more jobs for South Texans,” said Cuellar.  “I offer my congratulations to Mayor Salinas and City Manager Villarreal for their continued success in securing federal dollars to help improve our airport and support our local economy.”

“Thanks to Congressman Cuellar and the continued hard work of our Laredo International Airport staff, the City of Laredo continues to receive the federal dollars it needs to update and improve our airport so that it remains competitive, safe and a good neighbor in our community,” said City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas.  “The $3 million in grants will increase safety for not only the airplanes, passengers and cargo arriving at the airport, but also, allow the airport to continue to grow its trade capacity, cementing the City’s role as a leader in international trade.”

The Laredo International Airport is now in Phase 7 of an ongoing project to rehabilitate its apron area.  An apron is the surface on which airplanes park to undergo service and pick up passengers and cargo.  The Airport recently completed a renovation of its runways and taxiways. 

The Airport’s original apron pavement was installed in the 1940s and has a thickness of seven inches.  After the rehabilitation is completed, the apron surface will be three times stronger and will feature a new pavement comprised of six inches of asphalt and seventeen inches of concrete.  The new aprons will require less maintenance and will have increased capacity to handle larger aircrafts, like 737s and 757s.

The Department of Transportation funds awarded to the Laredo International Airport come from the Federal Aviation Administration as part of its Airport Improvement Program.  This grant is the most recent in a series of federal grants awarded to the Laredo International Airport.  Since 2009, the Airport has received more than $50 million in federal funds.