The Obama Administration this morning unveiled its FY 2012 budget request, including a proposed $1.1 billion reduction in AIP funding to $2.4 billion and the elimination of "guaranteed" AIP funding for large and medium hub airports. The Administration justifies the cut by also asking - in vague terms - for an increase in the PFC cap for "larger airports." According to budget documents "The Budget would eliminate Federal grants and allow larger airports to increase non-Federal passenger facility charges, creating for them an opportunity and flexibility to generate their own revenue as they see fit."
If PHL is considering the FAA AIP to pick most of the tab for this PHL expansion, they better hope and pray President Obama's budget proposal to eliminate large and medium hubs from AIP funding is defeated.