McClellan Applauds $5.8 Million FAA Grant for Richmond International Airport

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) applauded a $5.8 million Airport Terminal Program grant awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Richmond International Airport (RIC). This funding comes after McClellan led a letter with Reps. Rob Wittman (VA-01) and John McGuire (VA-05) supporting the grant application for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) and will go to the construction of RIC’s Passenger Screening Checkpoint Consolidation Project to reduce airport traffic and improve quality of service for travelers.

First designed in 2003, RIC’s terminal has checkpoints at each of its two concourses. Increased passenger traffic, long lines and an imbalance in wait times between the two checkpoints pose challenges for travelers, especially during peak hours. The Passenger Screening Checkpoint Consolidation Project will create a consolidated checkpoint to provide greater screening capacity, a more reasonable distribution of resources, shorter lines and improved access to the gates.

“This grant award to RIC will make a meaningful difference to RIC and its travelers,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “I thank the FAA for investing in a project that ensures smoother experiences for travelers passing through RIC. As we work to strengthen all transportation modes throughout the Commonwealth, I will continue to work with Senators Kaine and Warner and my House colleagues to advocate for funding that brings tangible impacts to major hubs like RIC.”

“We are extremely pleased that the FAA has awarded Richmond International Airport (RIC) a $5.8 million grant to support construction of our new Consolidated Security Screening Checkpoint,” said Perry J. Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., President and CEO of Richmond International Airport. “Combined with the $2.25 million FAA grant received in 2024 for design work, this latest award brings total federal support for the project to more than $8 million and represents a significant investment in the future of our airport and the traveling public we serve. We are especially grateful to Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and her colleagues in our Virginia Congressional delegation for their strong advocacy and longstanding support of our airport. Their bipartisan commitment reflects the critical economic impact RIC has on the Richmond Region and their shared dedication to meeting the transportation needs of our growing community.”

McClellan has been a steadfast supporter of funding for RIC, specifically for the Passenger Screening Checkpoint Consolidation Project. In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024), she joined Congressman Wittman and then-Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger to express support for the Capital Region Airport Commission’s application for the Airport Terminal Program grant, after which RIC received $2,250,000 for the project.

Read the FY2026 grant support letter here. Read the FY2024 grant support letter here.