Burlington airport officials told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Jan. 22, 2025, that the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) handles roughly 1,400,000 passengers a year, supports about 5,000 jobs in the region and is preparing a multi‑year capital program to expand gates, rebuild runway pavement and add a new terminal element called Project NEXT.

The presentation matters to lawmakers because BTV functions as a major economic engine for northern Vermont and the region: airport leaders said a past economic assessment valued the airport’s regional contribution at more than $1 billion and estimated roughly $170 million in annual wages associated with airport activity.

Airport staff described current operations, immediate constraints and near‑term capital priorities. Staff said BTV operates as an enterprise fund of the City of Burlington, with an annual operating budget of about $18–20 million and a projected five‑year capital program that they estimated will exceed $135,000,000. A portion of that program will be covered by Federal Aviation Administration funding; staff also noted a $34,000,000 contribution to “Project NEXT” secured with help from Sen. Patrick Leahy and the congressional delegation and a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission to support mass‑timber construction elements.

Officials explained one operational constraint driving the capital plan: gates built for smaller regional aircraft now sometimes cannot accommodate larger, modern narrow‑body jets without encroaching on taxiways. To address that, Project NEXT will add a new north‑side terminal element and shift circulation so larger Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/321 family aircraft can use new gates; staff said the phased work will include partial runway reconstruction performed overnight in stages so daily airline service can continue.

Airport leaders also outlined airline service and market trends. They said BTV currently hosts six commercial carriers, serves about 18 destinations (some seasonal), and that roughly 60 percent of passengers travel on business. Recent service additions mentioned included Breeze Airways and a resumed Frontier seasonal presence; staff noted new nonstop service to Raleigh–Durham and continuing seasonal links such as Sun Country to Minneapolis. Staff also said the airport still loses about 35 percent of its catchment area to Boston—part of the impetus behind a current marketing campaign to keep travelers local.

Sustainability and partnerships were a persistent theme. Staff said the airport recently received Airport Carbon Accreditation via Airport Council International, and that Project NEXT will incorporate mass timber and a geothermal field to reduce building emissions. Airport staff described a growing fleet of electric support vehicles and partnerships with local companies, naming Beta Technologies and Pratt & Whitney Canada as significant on‑field tenants; they said the Vermont Air National Guard provides firefighting and aircraft rescue services that reduce operating costs and capital needs.

Staffers invited committee members to site tours during town meeting week (March 6–7), offering buses and a walk‑through of the new construction, the airfield, the Guard fire station and tenant facilities. They said Burlington Technical School and Vermont Flight Academy are expanding training capacity on the field and that schools and career‑technical education pathways present opportunities to feed the airport’s workforce needs.

The committee followed with questions about the airport’s hub classification, competition with other regional airports, workforce and collaboration on technical education, and how Project NEXT will relieve gate constraints. Airport staff answered that Project NEXT’s reconfiguration is intended to clear taxiway encroachment and allow larger narrow‑body aircraft to use the new gates.

No formal committee action or vote occurred during the presentation; staff requested and offered follow‑up briefings and the March site visits. The airport will send a letter to members of the General Assembly prior to town meeting week with details about the tours and additional materials.