Summary
Keeps the Federal Aviation Administration and airport programs running by extending their funding and the taxes that pay for them until early March 2024.
What does this law do?
Extends aviation taxes
Continues taxes on airline tickets, aviation fuel, and air cargo until March 8, 2024. These taxes are the main source of money for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
Funds Federal Aviation Administration operations
Gives over $5.2 billion to fund the operations of the Federal Aviation Administration from October 1, 2023, to March 8, 2024.
Extends Airport Improvement Program funding
Provides over $1.46 billion for the Airport Improvement Program for the period from October 1, 2023, to March 8, 2024, to support airport building projects.
Funds air service for small communities
Authorizes over $155 million for the Essential Air Service program, which helps smaller communities have access to air travel, through March 8, 2024.
Extends drone program authorities
Continues the authority for unmanned aircraft system (drone) test ranges and other special drone programs until March 8, 2024.
Who does this affect?
- Air travelers
- Airlines
- Airports
What is the real world impact?
•
Prevents disruption to air travel
Extends funding for the FAA and airport projects to avoid a shutdown of essential services like air traffic control and safety programs. This ensures that flights continue to operate safely and that airport upgrades are not delayed.
•
Buys more time for Congress
Acts as a temporary measure because Congress could not agree on a long-term plan for the FAA. This extension gives lawmakers a few more months to negotiate a more comprehensive, multi-year aviation bill.
What problem does this solve?
Funding and legal authority for many FAA programs and the taxes that support them were set to expire. This law acts as a temporary fix, extending funding and authorities until March 8, 2024, to prevent a shutdown of the nation's aviation system.
When does this start?
This law extends various aviation programs, funding, and taxes until early March 2024.
Aviation tax extension
Taxes on fuel and airline tickets that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund are extended through March 8, 2024.
Airport Improvement Program extension
Authority for airport improvement project grants is extended to March 8, 2024.
FAA operations funding deadline
Funding for FAA operations is authorized through March 8, 2024.
Expenditure authority from trust fund
The authority to spend money from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund is extended until March 9, 2024.