Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) is worth billions of dollars to the Nova Scotia economy, generating nearly C$12billion for the province between 2000 and 2010, a new economic study has found.

In 2010 alone, C$1.249 billion in gross output was generated by airlines, airfreight firms, retailers and other companies involved directly and indirectly at the airport, up from C$1.224 billion in 2009.

Meanwhile, the economic impact study - conducted by Chris Lowe Planning and Management Group - found that since the operational control of the airport transferred from the government to Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) in 2000, the operator and the airport tenants have contributed more than C$425 million to the local economy through renovation and construction projects.

Tom Ruth, CEO of HIAA, said: "Together, our airport partners have a tremendous impact on Halifax and the province as an economic generator and growth enabler. Over the last decade, the airport has played a huge role as a significant contributor to the Nova Scotia economy.

"In the 10 years that the airport authority has been operating HSIA, the total impact of the airport on our community has risen by C$753 million - or three quarters of a billion dollars - including new construction and air tourism impacts."

Additionally, since 2000, the airport community employees have contributed C$527.4 million in personal income tax to the province of Nova Scotia and C$197.6 million in retail sales tax, while total employment at the airport has grown by 12.4% from 11,000 in 2000 to 12,365 jobs in 2010.

Elsewhere, tourists travelling to HSIA represented about 28% of all tourists to Nova Scotia, and in 2010, they generated an estimated C$620 million in revenue or 34% of the province's estimated $1.82 billion total tourism revenues.