Airport’s economic impact on city, region up despite global recession
By A.B. Snedeker

It’s no secret that Hartsfield-Jackson long has had a huge impact on the regional economy — and it continues to be the economic engine powering the region, despite almost three years of recession and worldwide financial instability.

According to a newly released 2009 study, direct business revenue generated in metro Atlanta by Hartsfield-Jackson has increased by nearly 40 percent since the last economic impact study in 2005 — from $23.5 billion to $32.6 billion.

The Airport-sponsored study also indicated that on-Airport jobs increased slightly — to about 58,000 from 56,500 in 2005. Airport-related jobs in the 28-county metro region increased by 11 percent — from 393,100 in 2005 to 434,400 in 2009.

“Hartsfield-Jackson continues to be the dominant economic generator for metro Atlanta,” said Robert Kennedy, interim general manager. “Airport jobs paid more than $4.3 billion in wages in 2009.”

Statewide, more than half a million (506,830) jobs were attributed to Hartsfield-Jackson in 2009, up 7 percent from 473,000 in 2005.

The study credited the Airport’s increased economic impact to higher passenger volumes and to longer stays and more spending by visitors.
 
For more information, download the executive summary of the 2009 economic impact study at the Airport’s Web site.