Air
Kentucky is home to a strong aviation community that includes 52 public use General Aviation Airports and 6 Commercial Airports that provide scheduled passenger and/or air cargo services.
General Aviation (GA) airports are critical to the Commonwealth, providing much needed access across the state. Business and corporate flyers depend on General Aviation airports for fast, reliable access to visit their facilities. We are home to nationally recognized aviation education programs is housed at a GA airport and supported the passage of SB 127.
Kentucky is also home to six commercial airports that are certified to provide scheduled passenger service including Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB), Barkley Regional Airport (PAH), and Bowling Green-Warren County Airport (BWG). CVG, SDF, and LEX contribute more than 85,000 jobs and over $10 billion (2022) in economic impact to the state. We can not understate the value of our commercial airports that also serve as global logistics hubs connecting Kentucky’s economy to the world. And beyond the movement of cargo, they are also innovation hubs moving Kentucky forward.
Kentucky is one of the only state to house three major air freight logistics companies moving goods through our state to the rest of the world. Due to their presence, Kentucky ranks third in the nation in total air cargo shipments.
Innovation & Discovery
KBT supports an atmosphere of innovation and discovery in Kentucky to encourage the rapid development and expansion of new industries, including advanced air mobility (AAM) and renewable aviation fuels. The time for AAM investment is now. The electrification of aviation is here and revolutionizing how we transport people and goods. AMM is making advancements in the medical industry, airport access and workforce possibilities. Recently we have led Kentucky to become members of The AAM Multistate Collaborative. Overall, the group’s purpose is to create a formal national collaboration of states to accelerate the deployment of AAM.
Funding
Airports, regardless of size and service, require continual maintenance and improvements to safely serve customers. These improvements and maintenance projects are funded through a variety of sources including the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, Aviation Economic Development Funds, and user fees.
Maintaining and improving the Commonwealth’s aviation network requires modernizing funding mechanisms at the federal, state and local level. Stable funding allows Kentucky’s airports to plan, design, and complete major maintenance and improvement projects that will benefit all Kentuckians.