The City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation has been awarded a $17.568 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Terminal Program (ATP) grant to support Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) Terminal D/E Baggage Makeup Expansion Project. The FAA’s Airport Terminal Program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed in 2021. This final round of funding in the five-year ATP program focused on family friendly airport projects.
"As Philadelphia prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup, America’s Semiquincentennial, and other major global moments, we are continuing to invest in modernizing our airports, improving the traveler experience, and creating economic opportunity for Philadelphia residents," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "I want to thank the Federal Aviation Administration for this vitally important $17.5 million grant, and I want to thank our entire delegation in Washington, led by Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, for all of their intergovernmental collaboration in helping our city to secure this grant. These investments are about more than transportation — they are about showing the world that Philadelphia is ready, rising, and open for business as we continue building the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in America, with access to economic opportunity for all.”
“Thank you to the FAA for selecting PHL’s Terminal D/E Baggage Makeup Expansion Project for an Airport Terminal Program grant,” said City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation Interim CEO Tracy Borda. “I would also like to thank Delaware Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Sarah McBride and all of our elected officials who supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law from its beginning in 2021. The more than $119 million in funding we received over the past five years significantly helped in our efforts to enhance the guest experience with a modern, sustainable airport.”
An airport’s baggage makeup areas are the locations in the terminals where outbound baggage is sorted for delivery to departing aircraft. PHL’s Terminal D/E Baggage Makeup Expansion project will increase outbound baggage make-capacity to meet current and future baggage volume requirements for passengers and airlines using Terminals D and E. Plans call for increasing carousels and bag cart positions call for repurposing existing space and adding space to Terminal E and constructing a new 12,000 square-foot annex to Terminal D.
“Existing capacity is 40 percent less than current passenger demand for Terminals D and E,” said PHL Chief Development Officer Api Appulingam. “With the expansion project, we will increase baggage makeup carousels from 6 to 8 and bag cart positions from 43 to 73. The project will allow our airline partners using Terminals D and E to deliver baggage to their aircraft quicker and more efficiently.”
PHL’s project also calls for replacing incandescent lighting in Terminal E with LED lighting; upgrading heating and electrical systems; and installing insulation in walls and roofing systems to comply with the latest International Building and Energy Conservation codes.
PHL’s grant was one of 133 awarded to airports in 45 states. During the five-year Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act program, PHL received $119,468,000 in ATP funding for projects including the Restroom Renovations Program and the Terminal Energy Optimization Program.
