Asheville Regional Airport gets $2.5 million for airfield construction

Asheville Citizen Times | 02.23.2026

The Asheville Regional Airport received substantial new funding for infrastructure when U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards presented a $2.5 million check during a Feb. 20 visit, according to his office.

The airport plans to use the money to build a new taxiway, which planes use to move between runways, hangars and other parts of the airfield, airport spokesperson Angi Daus told the Times-News Feb. 23.

Taxiways aren’t typically used as a runway but can be when Asheville’s single runway is closed for maintenance, Daus said.

“It’s extremely important for the safety and efficiency of the airport that you have a proper configuration and setup of your airfield,” she said.

The new taxiway should improve connections to planned improvements on airport land, which might include hangars and maintenance or cargo facilities, she said.

There’s no set timeline for construction of the taxiway but it will probably be several years before it’s completed, she said. She didn’t expect construction to affect commercial flights.

Congress passed a $1.2 trillion Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package Feb. 3 to fund the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Defense, Housing and Urban Development and Homeland Security, the Associated Press reported.

“This bipartisan funding package ensures we deliver real results for our communities, from safer streets and emergency services to reliable infrastructure and workforce development,” Edwards said in a Jan. 23 news release announcing the bill had passed the U.S. House.

The airport broke ground on a $400 million rebuilding project in August 2023, meant to address a steep increase in passenger traffic over the past few years, the Times-News previously reported.

Traffic surpassed 2 million passengers for the first time in 2023 and again in 2024 despite a 3% dip in traffic from Tropical Storm Helene, the Times-News reported.

A new concourse and ticketing lobby opened in June and July and the airport rolled out a new logo, website and branding in August.

Demolition of the old South Concourse began in October, the Times-News reported.

A new baggage claim is on track to open in mid-April and a new rental car lobby in early May, she said.

The appropriations package also includes $1.5 million for the Town of Robbinsville to upgrade water lines serving a new elementary school in Graham County; $3 million for Madison County for a new emergency services hub; $3 million for Swain County to upgrade water lines serving a new Bryson County middle school; and $3 million for Buncombe County to build a new 10,000-square-foot EMS base, according to Edwards’ release.