Photo / Courtesy McFarland Johnson
Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport’s service area is a a hub for corporate, charter, cargo and recreational aviators.
May 18, 2025
Auburn-Lewiston airport upgrades will include a new hangar
Photo / Courtesy McFarland Johnson
Construction of a new hangar and related upgrades are expected to improve airport experience and pave the way for passenger air service in the future.
Airport upgrades are back on track at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, thanks to the federal government’s release of $1.6 million in frozen funds that had already been awarded for the project.
“The release of these funds will allow for the construction of the new hangar and related upgrades to proceed as planned — improving the airport experience for those who already use it and paving the way for passenger air service in the future,” said U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District.
The funds were originally secured by Golden as part of the fiscal year 2023 appropriations process.
The airport sought to draw down the approved funds in January and reached out to Golden two months later when the funds were not made available.
Golden’s office contacted the Federal Aviation Administration on the airport’s behalf, and learned the grants were frozen pending review for compliance with executive orders.
The lack of funding meant the airport was at risk of missing a critical mid-May contractor payment deadline, jeopardizing the project’s future, according to a news release.
Over several months, Golden’s office worked with Jonathan LaBonté, the airport’s director, to stress the importance of the project and the looming deadline to the FAA and to secure the money’s release.
The FAA announced last week that the funds would be released.
"As we position the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to be the preferred general aviation airport in southern and western Maine, we've quickly run out of space for the pilots wishing to base their aircraft here,” LaBonté said. “With the support of Congressman Golden, additional federal investment will be paired with local and state dollars to construct a 10-unit T-hangar to welcome even more aviators here.”
He continued, “In the last two years, we've grown to host a flight school, three aircraft maintenance businesses and dozens more aircraft, in addition to our role hosting a base for LifeFlight of Maine. This new federal investment continues that momentum.”
T-hangars are typical hangars used for general aviation.
Opened in 1935, the Auburn-Lewiston Airport is a hub for corporate, charter, cargo and recreational aviators.
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