Contact: Barbara Riley
Friday, September 1, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu (R-NH) and Congressmen Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley (R-NH) announced today that the Manchester – Boston Regional Airport is set to receive $7.8 million through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. The funds will support the airport’s ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of noise on nearby residences and to restore a runway at the facility.

“Manchester Airport provides a convenient link to and from New Hampshire and New England, driving economic activity by bringing millions of visitors and business people to the state each year. These resources represent a long-term investment in the airport’s future,” said Gregg, Sununu, Bass and Bradley. “The facility’s continued growth underscores the importance of maintaining the quality of its core infrastructure, helping to ensure that the airport remains a safe, reliable travel option. Additionally, this grant money stands to benefit local residents whose homes may qualify for sound insulation.”

Airport Director Kevin Dillon stated that, “These grants are very important to the continuing success of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The Runway Grant will allow the Airport to advance a key infrastructure project relating to Runway 6/24 improvements. The Sound Mitigation Grant will allow the Airport to sound insulate many more homes impacted by airport operations. We are very appreciative of the efforts of the entire New Hampshire Federal Delegation that made these Grants possible.”

These Airport Improvement Programs funds will be disbursed in the following amounts:

* $4.6 million for the airport’s ongoing noise mitigation program, which aims to reduce the impact of noise in neighboring residences; and,

* $3.2 million for a project to restore portions of runway 6-24 to its original pavement strength, as well as for other safety improvement efforts at runway 6.