600 Feet At A Time: The Small US Airports Extending Their Runways In 2026

Published Sep 10, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT Ethan is an aviation professional with a degree in Aviation Management with Flight from the Florida Institute of Technology. He previously wrote aviation and tourism features for Florida Tech’s student newspaper, The Crimson, where he developed a clear, reader‑focused reporting style. Aviation journalism has remained a consistent priority throughout his career. He currently holds a Restricted ATP and Commercial Multi‑Engine Pilot certificate and works in aviation supply chain and aircraft component repair. Alongside his industry role, he is pursuing his Certified Flight Instructor rating and actively building flight experience. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Ethan spent countless hours at Raleigh–Durham International Airport’s observation deck studying air traffic and practicing amateur photography and videography. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: a landmark $1.2 trillion federal law that was signed by Former President Joe Biden in 2021. The Act allocated $5 billion of these federal funds specifically for airport terminals over its first five years, supplemented this year by Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), such grants were specifically distributed to hundreds of airports nationwide, and are based on passenger volume and specific infrastructure need. For example, Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) was awarded $2,774,934 dedicated to its terminal expansion project. It saw 313,198 enplanements in 2025, per the FAA. Another example is Hector International Airport (FAR), which was awarded $3,913,006 for its terminal expansion project and had 598,447 enplanements in 2025. Some airports in the AIP have been awarded funds for runway expansion, or specifically for runway length extension. However, several other airports in the program have other runway enhancement projects. 7 Lamoni Municipal Airport The Lamoni Municipal Airport (LWD) in Iowa is now executing a multi-phase expansion project to extend Runway 18/36 by 600 feet, growing it from 3,400 feet to 4,000 feet. Lamoni received $550,000 to complete the 600-foot runway extension/expansion and install a new runway visual guidance system. Types of Runway Visual Guidance Systems PAPI Precision Approach Path Indicator) Uses a single row of four light boxes projecting red and white combinations. Two white and two red lights indicate a normal 3-degree glide slope. VASI Visual Approach Slope Indicator Uses stacked light units (such as two-bar or three-bar configurations) showing red and white color shifts to denote high, on-slope, or low positions. ALS Approach Lighting System A configuration of strobe and steady-state lights extending outward from the runway threshold to help transition from instrument to visual flight. REIL Runway End Identifier Lights Synchronized flashing strobe lights placed at the corners of the runway threshold to identify the approach end. According to Farm Progress, the Lamoni community has worked hard to ensure the surrounding land was preemptively acquired, allowing construction to start easily upon the 2026 FAA approval. In 2017, a key United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan helped get the ball rolling on land acquisition and planning efforts, bringing life to an expansion project that will benefit the Iowa farming community. "Lamoni and the surrounding communities are leveraging the expanded commercial airport as an additional economic driver to attract corporations to this region, create new jobs, increase the number of consumers in our stores, and the number of students in our schools," Lamoni City Council Member Jordan Olmstead said. 6 Blair Executive Airport According to Blair Radio, construction for the Runway 13/31 and parallel taxiway expansion project at Blair Executive Airport (KBTA) in Blair, Nebraska, officially began on August 17. The city of Blair features major biotech and ag-tech industries, local parks, and historical spots. Located 25 nautical miles from Omaha, Nebraska's major economic hub, Blair Executive Airport offers an easy alternative to business jet traffic and a useful resource for eastern Nebraska flight schools. Nebraska Flight Center calls KBTA home for all flight training activities. Blair has a unique benefit: closing the runway daily during construction has allowed the airport authority to progress quickly. The anticipated completion is estimated at 50 working days, although possibly sooner, weather permitting. Blair was awarded $282,000 for the entire project. 5 Grants Pass Airport Credit: AirNav Grants Pass Airport is undergoing a 700 feet runway extension to its runway 13/31. According to KOBI, the project faced several years of insufficient funding, stalling it until federal funding arrived in 2026. Grants Pass holds the airport identifier 3S8. According to Pilot Institute, airport codes containing numbers are not under official IATA jurisdiction, making it "evident that the code belongs to a small US airfield." Grants Pass was awarded $1,450,000 in FAA AIP funding for the project, plus nearly $1.5 million from the state of Oregon. Construction of the 700 feet extension is already complete. 4 Middle Georgia Regional Airport Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) is the first airport on this list with scheduled commercial service, courtesy of Contour Airlines. The airport primarily serves Macon, GA, and Bibb County. Contour currently operates scheduled service to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) with its fleet of Embraer ERJ-135 aircraft, under the Essential Air Service(EAS) contract from the US Government. Historically, several other airlines, such as Piedmont, US Airways Express, Delta Connection, and Silver Airways, have also operated scheduled service at the airport. According to Macon-Bibb County, the FAA has issued MCN $2,618,518 for the project, with a local match of up to $137,816.74 from the state of Georgia. The project will extend runway 5/23 from 6,501 feet to 7,101 feet, adding another 600-foot increment to this list. While no official mandate requires 600-foot extension increments, it is likely a notable standard for airport developers and engineering firms alike. "Not only will [runway extension] allow larger aircraft to operate more efficiently at MCN, but it also opens the door for more opportunities as we continue growing air service, attracting new business, and expanding what our airport can offer the region," Aviation Director Doug Faour stated. 3 St. Mary's County Regional Airport Spearheaded by US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), St. Mary's County Regional Airport completed a whopping $22 million runway upgrade. The Maryland airport received only $1,323,906 in AIP funding, plus other miscellaneous federal sources, according to The Baynet. The airport supports local economic development through St. Mary's College of Maryland, Defense and Aerospace (Naval Air Station Patuxent River), and local agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism. Other economic areas such as museum development and local real estate also benefit from the expanded airport. While no commercial service exists, the airport is home to RCS Services, the sole Fixed Base Operator (FBO), which also provides hangar rental and even flight training. Geographically, the airport sits in southern Maryland, tucked just inland on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Its location places it within convenient reach of several major metropolitan areas: roughly an hour south of Baltimore, west of Annapolis, and within the broader airspace ecosystem of Washington, DC. This positioning makes the airport a practical base for pilots seeking quieter operations outside the busy Class B and Class D environments around the region’s larger airports, while staying close to major population centers and aviation infrastructure. 2 Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport Credit: KDH News Draughon‑Miller Central Texas Regional Airport has finished a $6.7 million runway extension, adding 502 feet to runway 3/21, to preserve runway length, improve safety, and support future business aviation growth, per KDH News. Funding came almost entirely from a 95% AIP grant, supported by the FAA and TxDOT Aviation Division, with only a 5% local match. Airport Director Sean Parker emphasized that the project is primarily a safety investment, but one that also boosts aircraft performance in hot weather, increases flexibility for business aviation, and strengthens the airport’s ability to support regional economic development. The city notes that many companies rely on business aviation, and the improved infrastructure positions Temple and Central Texas for future business growth and job creation. Currently, no commercial air service is scheduled at TPL, despite two runways and a large FBO at Temple Executive Air Center. TPL Airport primarily serves the Temple, TX, metro area, while also being close to Waco (39 nautical miles), Austin (70 nautical miles), and Dallas (136 nautical miles). 1