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http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/extra/article_572a3a88-7f91-11ea-8d4d-6b46cdfc2877.html

By IRIS SAMUELS [email protected] Apr 16, 2020

DEREK CLARKSTON/Kodiak Daily Mirror

All is quiet at the Kodiak Benny Benson State on April 5.

The Federal Aviation Administration released $124 million for Alaskan airports to offset impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. This grant funding comes from the CARES Act Airport Grant Program.

Of that funding, around $1.6 could go to Kodiak airports, according to the FAA. The Kodiak Benny Benson Airport could receive up to $1.4 million.

Eleven smaller airports in the Kodiak region could receive up to $20,000 each, including airports in Karluk, Akhiok, Old Harbor, Larsen Bay, Port Lions, Kitoi Bay, Ouzinkie, Trident Basin and the .

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The Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage is eligible to receive $26.3 million.

“We appreciate the support of Congress and the FAA,” said John MacKinnon, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transport.

“This funding is critical to support airport maintenance and operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the decline in aviation traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds can be used for any aviation expense including airport operating expenses, airport debt service payments, capital projects and more.”

The department estimates that the Kodiak airport has seen an 84% reduction in passenger traffic compared to 2019. Six department staff members operate the Kodiak airport.

According to a local DOT employee, the airport staff has not been reduced since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Maintenance of seven smaller state-owned airports on is contracted out to local governments and tribal entities. They complete the maintenance, brush work, snow and ice removal, and grading.

The funding will be available to airports after legislative appropriation. According to the department, “funds will help offset the state’s budget challenges and decreased oil revenue in order to ensure the highest aviation priorities remain funded.”

DOT Public Information Officer Sam Dapcevich said it’s too early to know specific details about the exact amount distributed to each airport. The estimates were calculated by the U.S. Department of Transportation based on passenger traffic.

“While there was a specific amount allocated for each airport (pending legislative authority), the distribution has not been determined,” Dapcevich wrote in an email.

“As an example, if the State of Alaska is eligible for $20,000 based on an airport’s activity level, this amount will be combined with other rural airport funding and collectively used to ensure the highest aviation priorities remain funded.”

The state of Alaska owns and operates 239 airports. Of the amount granted to Alaska, approximately $33 million is for the two international airports, $49 million is for state-owned rural airports, and $41.7 million is for non-state-owned airports.

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