The Columbus Regional Airport Authority and its three airports — Port Columbus International, Rickenbacker International and Bolton Field — as well as select businesses located at Rickenbacker Inland Port account for more than 54,000 jobs, $1.8 billion in annual payroll and $6.6 billion in total annual economic output, according to a new study.
According to the study, the three airports support 38,374 jobs through direct and multiplier impacts, more than $1.3 billion in payroll and more than $4.6 billion in total output annually. This represents a significant increase over the findings in the 2004 Regional Airports Economic Impact Study. Specifically, employment has increased 28 percent, annual payroll has increased 68 percent and annual output has increased 69 percent.
In addition to the three airports, the study also considered select off-airport, non-aviation related businesses located within Rickenbacker Inland Port with direct ties to the airport authority. When including off-airport impacts resulting from the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, Foreign-Trade Zone #138 and Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal, the total impact increases to 54,172 jobs, $1.8 billion in annual payroll and $6.6 billion in total annual output.
“We are energized by the growing impact of our aviation system assets on Central Ohio,” said Elaine Roberts, A.A.E., president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “It’s our mission through investments such as the Port Columbus Terminal Modernization Program to develop our airports in a manner that maximizes regional economic growth.”
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