In Louisiana, for example, a newly released study of the economic impact of the state’s 69 airports was released in June. It analyzed the state’s aviation system and identified an estimated $6.75 billion a year in direct economic output by aviation as well as $1.76 billion in annual payroll, and 58,853 jobs supported by airports.
General aviation airports contribute $967 million a year, and generate payrolls of $297 million, distributed among 9,307 jobs, the report said.
The economic output numbers include expenditures by airport businesses, about 3.6 million visitors to Louisiana, and a multiplier effect to gauge the total impact of the aviation economy.
The report, “Louisiana Airports Economic Impact Study,” is the latest in a series of studies launched in 2011 by the state’s Department of Transportation and Development’s Aviation Division as part of the Louisiana Aviation System Plan.
The airports analyzed included seven commercial service airports and 62 GA airports, including a heliport in New Orleans.