Report: Airports Contribute $61 Billion, 373,000 Jobs To N.C. Economy

A new study shows that North Carolina airports contribute $61 billion dollars annually to the state.

The report was released by the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation and is based on 2019 data. The survey provides a snapshot of aviation's pre-pandemic impact on the local economy.

It shows that the network of 72 publicly owned airports normally supports 373,000 jobs.

According to a news release, Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) contributes over $8 billion to the local economy, providing $1.6 billion in personal income, as well a significant amount to local and state tax revenue.

PTI leads the state in cargo service and is the home of HAECO Americas North American headquarters. 

The study shows that the Piedmont Triad has the highest number of students enrolled in local community college aviation programs. 

The report is released every two years. While the study does not include post-pandemic numbers, officials say it demonstrates aviation's economic impact on the state and can provide benchmarks for tracking recovery.