The awards include US$10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport in Iowa to replace the 1948 terminal that is operating above capacity and US$29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah for a terminal and concourse redevelopment programme. This is the second phase of funding – the FAA awarded nearly US$1 billion for airport terminal projects announced for 85 airports last year.

The FAA said the grants will help “meet the growing demand for air travel and invest in key areas to help get travellers in and out of airports more quickly and improve the passenger experience by investing in new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints and improved ground transportation.”

The US is spending tens of billions to refurbish and expand ageing airports that were often mocked. Then vice president Joe Biden in 2014 compared New York’s LaGuardia airport to “some third-world country”.

Last year, New York celebrated the six-year US$8 billion reconstruction of LaGuardia airport.

In November the FAA granted final environmental approval for construction of a new US$4.2 billion terminal at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and for a US$8.5 billion project at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport that includes a new Terminal 2.

On Monday, O’Hare was awarded US$50 million to help rehabilitate and expand passenger access for the 60-year-old Terminal 3.

The Department of Transportation also said Sarasota Bradenton in Florida would get US$10 million to help fund new passenger security screening checkpoint lanes and gates, while Savannah/Hilton Head in Georgia won US$6.5 million for a 23,000-square foot security screening checkpoint expansion project to help reduce wait times.

The 2021 infrastructure law dedicates US$25 billion for airport projects over five years.