Did you know the state of Indiana has a system of 69 aviation facilities? Altogether, this network creates a huge amount of business growth and economic opportunity for Hoosiers. Recent data from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) shows us just how high our airports have been soaring lately, generating a multi-billion-dollar impact that can fly among some of our state’s largest industries.
Taking Off
Among our 69 aviation facilities, our state has four commercial service airports, 64 general aviation (GA) airports, and one heliport. There are actually two more smaller unclassified airport facilities too, but they were not part of INDOT’s 2022 Indiana State Aviation Economic Impact Study.
Unlike many business locations that typically specialize in a particular activity, like a manufacturer or an office, airports have a ton of diverse things taking place each day. At any given airport, a very broad range of commercial travel, shipping, business, research, recreation, emergency, public safety, agricultural, and lots of other types of operations can be found.
And let’s not forget about all the visitors to our state that stimulate our economy by spending money on accommodations, food, and entertainment during their stay.
There are several giant employers too, including some of the largest and most well-known companies in the world. Some of the key players at our airports include firms like FedEx and Rolls-Royce, which are also supported by a network of small and medium firms that perform all kinds of maintenance, manufacturing, supply, and repair services.
So, needless to say, calculating the true economic impact of aviation in Indiana is quite a complex task. There are numerous datapoints to consider.
The Numbers
In building their findings, INDOT’s researchers looked at everything surrounding our airports. That includes airport employment, contracted employment, tenant employment, capital spending, visitors and spending amounts, airport revenues, and much more.
“The total annual economic impact of Indiana’s aviation system is significant,” INDOT said. “Each facility contributes notable benefits to the local and statewide economies individually and offers even greater impacts when assessed systemwide.”
Collectively, the public-use facilities in Indiana’s aviation system generated more than:
The included chart provides a comprehensive breakdown of the total economic impact from Hoosier airports.
Sources: IBISWorld, 2022 Indiana State Aviation Economic Impact Study
Localized Look
One of the other cool parts about the airport impact report was a location-by-location look at the economic activity surrounding each of the 69 airport facilities. For example, the four commercial service airports in Indiana are each major economic drivers.
Several of our state’s general aviation facilities also generate massive impacts. These locations have all kinds of varied activities going on, like military operations, chartered flights, customs, and a whole lot more.
There’s a lot more data available for each airport. Be sure to check out INDOT’s report so you can take a look at the impact of sites in your local area.
Ascending Each Year
All of the economic potential surrounding airports is a great thing for business in Indiana, supporting thousands of jobs and creating new opportunities for companies. It’s worth noting that in addition to all of these positive figures, the airport sector has been continually growing through new capital investment, increased passenger levels, new freight and logistics avenues, and much more. It’s safe to say that airports in Indiana are going to be economically ascending for many years to come.
How Do Airports Stack Up Against Other Hoosier Industry GDPs?
Let’s Do a Comparison!
Sources: IBISWorld, 2022 Indiana State Aviation Economic Impact Study
