AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport generated $7,605,871,000 in economic activity in 2017 and supports more than 74,000 jobs in the Austin area, according to the latest Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) economic impact study. The airport’s economic impact to the region has increased by 212%, up from $2,433,694,061 in 2010.
The airport has experienced continuous annual passenger traffic increases since the last TXDOT study in 2010. Passenger traffic has increased 60% since 2010, growing from 8.69 million passengers to 13.89 million passengers in 2017.
The tastes of Central Texas are growing at Austin-Bergstrom as well. In 2017, passengers enjoyed:
- 61.5 tons of brisket (up 13% from 54.5 tons in first year recorded 2012)
- 684,199 breakfast tacos (up 37% from 498,141 in first year recorded 2012)
- 1,500 live music performances (up 86% from 805 in first year recorded 2012)
The $7.6 billion dollar economic impact of Austin’s airport and over 74,000 jobs it supports is part of the overall benefit of airports to Texas and the world. Texas airport system overall generated $94.3 billion in economic activity in 2017.
Globally, the air transport sector supports 65.5 million jobs and generates $2.7 trillion in economic activity, according to new research released Oct. 2, 2018 by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) as reported by Airports Council International.