Burlington International Airport tells Senate Transportation committee it is growing but needs capital to match demand

Burlington — Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport officials briefed the Vermont Senate Transportation Committee on Jan. 31 about record passenger counts, new airline routes and planned capital projects, while flagging airspace limits and ground-transportation gaps that constrain growth.

The airport presented passenger and tenant statistics and an early outline of Project NEXT, a north-side terminal expansion. "Safety is our top priority," said Jeff Bartley, director of innovation and marketing for Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, during the committee presentation. He said the airport is handling roughly 1,400,000 passengers a year and called the airport "a source of innovation" because of aviation tenants on the field.

Committee members were given the economic context: pre-pandemic regional economic impact estimates showed roughly $1 billion in regional economic activity and about 5,000 jobs tied to the airport, officials said. Airport leadership said the coming capital program is roughly $140 million over the next several years; state grant support was described as about $2.5 million spread over five years (roughly $0.5…