RALEIGH – So what’s the economic impact of Raleigh-Durham-International Airport on North Carolina’s economy? Try some $17 billion and support for more than 85,000 jobs.
That data, by the way, is from 2021, as the state, country and world recovered from the COVID pandemic which virtually shut down air travel a year earlier.
The report from the N.C. Department of Transportation, with data included from the Federal Aviation Administration, says RDU contributes:
- $17,012,380,000 in economic output
- $5,449,640,000 in personal income
- $887,725,000 in state and local taxes
- 85,460 jobs
Air cargo deliveries surge in NC aviation industry’s recovery from pandemic
“Despite the lingering economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, RDU has proven itself as a major economic engine for North Carolina and the region the airport serves,” said Michael Landguth, CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, in a statement. “RDU’s significant contributions to the regional workforce and tax base underscore the importance of realizing the airport’s growth plans, as we prepare for continued economic expansion in the bustling Research Triangle region.”
