Massachusetts’s 39 public-use airports in 2017 generated economic activity of $24.7 billion and supported more than 199,000 jobs with an approximately $7.2 billion payroll, according to a new study from the Massachusetts DOT (MassDOT). The study says these figures represent an increase of 49 percent, 23 percent, and 19 percent, respectively, over the results reported for 2014.
The report shows Boston Logan International Airport as having the greatest economic impact, employing more than 162,000 people with a payroll of nearly $6 billion, and providing in excess of $16.3 billion in economic output. Hanscom, the busiest general aviation airport in New England, is also the second busiest overall with more than 100,000 operations annually. Including its military presence, Hanscom employs some 19,500 people with a payroll exceeding $527 million and an economic output of nearly $7 billion.
As a group, the 30 other GA airports in the state produced a total economic output of nearly $631 million and reported a total payroll of more than $270 million for 5,166 employees.
“We are pleased to release the latest update to our Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study, which highlights how airports throughout Massachusetts are continuing to support jobs and economic opportunity,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “This study underscores the importance of investments in airport infrastructure because our airports are vital to the state’s economy, creating jobs, moving people and goods, and in many cases, serving as important community gathering areas in less populated areas of the Commonwealth.”
“The shows how public-use airports promote economic growth in cities and towns across Massachusetts while ensuring that people have more options for reaching the places they need to go,” added MassDOT Aeronautics Administrator Jeffrey DeCarlo. “Aviation is continuing to be a strong economic catalyst, and MassDOT is proud to continue supporting public-use airports.”