Washington's two principal airports generated an estimated $1.3 billion in tax for the local economy and created 25,269 direct jobs and 312,000 indirect jobs, a new study has concluded.

Conducted by the Louis Berger Group on behalf of the Metropolitan Airports Authority, the study examined the economic impact of Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports along with the ongoing construction of the Dulles Metrorail Project.

Tenants at both airports generated an estimated $3.6 billion in sales in 2009 and the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Service the report noted once complete will be a major boost to regional economic development.

In 2009, the Dulles Toll Road generated nearly 500 jobs and $32.1 million in labour income while the Metrorail's construction generated nearly 1,500 jobs and almost $96 million in labour income for the Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Producers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia shipped an estimated $5.2 billion worth of locally produced goods through Dulles International and Reagan National and the 12.2 million visitors who arrived at the two airports spent $10.6 billion during their stay.

"Washington's airports are major contributors to our local economy as well as connecting our region to the world and enabling us to travel conveniently for business and leisure," says Lynn Hampton, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Authority.

By Oliver Clark