ASU Study: Phoenix airports contribute huge economic impact
The city of Phoenix’s airport system, which includes Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix Deer Valley and Phoenix Goodyear airports, has an annual total economic impact of $44.3 billion, according to a new study from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.
The results of the study, which are based on data from the 2022 calendar year, were made public on April 25.
Compared to 2016, the previous year ASU conducted a study on the system, the economic impact generated from Phoenix’s airports grew 15%.
The report showed that the airports, with Sky Harbor being the largest contributor, form the largest economic engine in the state of Arizona that supports nearly 246,000 jobs and an annual payroll of $14.8 billion.
In fact, when all the employees who work at Sky Harbor at different capacities and for the different airlines, restaurants and other companies that operate there were tallied together in 2022, Sky Harbor was the largest employer in the state with 47,919 employees, beating out Banner Health (45,837), Walmart (36,995) and Amazon (32,000).
“The Phoenix Airport System is a critical asset to our community and state, and this new study underscores how vital it is to our economy,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement. “Phoenix is thriving in no small part thanks to our airports, and our continued investment in them creates jobs, supports both local and global businesses, connects Phoenicians to worldwide opportunities, and leaves visitors with a desire to come back to the Valley.”
While the study shows that Sky Harbor’s impact on the Valley’s economy has grown, the study was conducted using data from 2022, before Sky Harbor had fully recovered from the impacts the Covid-19 pandemic had on the airport and the commercial aviation industry. Sky Harbor recorded its highest passenger traffic year ever in 2023 and the first few months of 2024 surpassed 2023 at the same point of time.
The release of the study comes just days after Gallego announced in her annual state of the city address that she is going to get the ball rolling on building a new terminal at Sky Harbor.
Here are some numbers that demonstrate how much activity happens at Sky Harbor Airport every day.
A typical day at Sky Harbor includes:
- 1,077 commercial aircraft arrivals and departures – about 45 per hour
- 121,638 passengers moving through the terminals
- 1,067 tons of air freight handled
- $576,000 worth of purchases of food & beverages in the terminal
- 15,400 revenue producing ground trips via rideshare, taxi, vans and buses
- 4,550 contracts issued at the Rental Car Center
- $19.3 million in spending by air visitors in the region