Virginia's airport system contributed $28.8 billion in economic activity to the state in 2010 - 4.4% of its total output - according to a new study commissioned by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV).
The study found that of the 66 airports in Virginia, Washington's Dulles and Reagan National airports had the greatest economic impact, contributing a combined $17.5 billion to the state economy in 2010.
Other, non-hub, commercial service airports in Virginia were the source of more than $3 billion of economic activity, while general aviation generated around $728 million.
The economic impact study was conducted to identify the economic benefits associated with the nine commercial and 57 general aviation airports dotted throughout Virginia.
In particular it focused on the economic benefits created by the airports, the visitors who travel through them and the companies that rely on the airports to support and conduct their business.
It included both the direct impact from jobs at airports, spending by airports and travelers arriving in the state through airports, and the indirect and induced impacts such as spending by businesses located at airports on supplies from other Virginia companies, and spending by people employed at airports.
According to the report, approximately 259,000 jobs were created and sustained by Virginia airports in 2010, which represents 5.5% of the total jobs in the state as a whole.
Meanwhile, $11.1 billion was paid out in payroll as a result of jobs created by the airports.
The study also revealed that each job at one of the 66 gateways supports an additional seven jobs in the state while every $1 spent at an airport contributes an additional $3.48 in economic activity for Virginia.
The $28.8 billion impact is a significant increase from a similar 2004 study, which identified about $10 billion in economic impact from airports in Virginia.
According to the study, each day more than 69,000 people board commercial aircraft in Virginia, and more than 6,000 aircraft take-off and land at Virginia airports.
As a result approximately 23,000 visitors arrive in the state by commercial airline or general aviation aircraft every day, the DOAV added.
