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Oklahoma Approves $520M, Five-Year Airport Construction Program

Oklahoma Approves $520M, Five-Year Airport Construction Program

The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission has approved a $520 million, five-year program to improve the state’s airport network. The initiative funds 176 total infrastructure developments.
 
Running from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031, the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ (ODAA) Airport Construction Program pools federal, state and local funds to accelerate aviation business growth and enhance safety measures statewide. The strategy targets infrastructure needs to attract new commercial investment and transform airports into stronger economic drivers for local communities, while ensuring aviation facilities support the state’s transportation needs.

Among major funded projects are construction of a maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at Tulsa International that will be large enough to accommodate widebody commercial aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767. The airport will invest $9 million, and the ODAA will contribute $6 million to cover the $15 million project.
 
Another project is at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport in Washita County, where they will dedicate facilities to bring New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace and its suborbital flight program to the state. The co-location agreement includes a hangar, office building and supporting facilities. The state appropriated $7.5 million for the project.
 
At Ponca City Regional, the city will replace its outdated terminal with a new building to accommodate waiting passengers, pilot, and other visitors. The new terminal will be relocated to the west of the existing building to allow for an apron. The FAA will provide $9.4 million in grants to fund most of the nearly $13 million project; ODAA will fund $1 million; and the City of Ponca City will cover the remaining $2.4 million.
 
“This plan represents a bold, pro-growth vision for Oklahoma and continues our leap into the global aerospace economy,” said ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies. “We’re not just maintaining runways; we’re building a world-class network capable of supporting next-generation commercial aircraft and pioneering aerospace industry operations to drive our state’s economy for decades.”