Port Columbus, Rickenbacker and Bolton Field airports are more than just airplanes and runways. According to the January 2005 independent economic impact study they also mean thousands of jobs, millions of dollars in paychecks and billions of dollars in total economic activity.

The economic impact study followed a proven, FAA-supported methodology that considered all on-airport aviation activities, capital improvement projects, visitor related expenditures and their ripple effects.

According to the study, the total impact of the three airports results in nearly 30,000 jobs, $793.1 million in payroll and $2.7 billion in annual economic activity. Rickenbacker International Airport is responsible for 6,300 jobs with an annual payroll over $163 million and a total of $547.9 million in annual economic activity.

Below is a chart that summarizes the economic impact of each airport and their combined effect on the Central Ohio Region:

Port Columbus International Airport
	Jobs	Annual Payroll	Annual Economic Activity
Airport Tenants
First-Round	5,828	$229.8 Million	$851.3 Million
Second-Round	6,920	$174.1 Million	$721.7 Million
Total	12,748	$403.9 Million	$1.6 Billion
Commercial Service Visitor Industry
First-Round	7,155	$134.6 Million	$368.2 Million
Second-Round	3,323	$79.6 Million	$230.4 Million
Total	10,478	$214.2 Million	$598.6 Million
General Aviation Visitor Industry
First-Round	211	$4.1 Million	$9.7 Million
Second-Round	83	$2.6 Million	$7.1 Million
Total	294	$6.7 Million	$16.8 Million
Total	23,520	$624.8 Million	$2.2 Billion

Rickenbacker International Airport
	Jobs	Annual Payroll	Annual Economic Activity
Airport Tenants
First-Round	3,133	$102.5 Million	$254.8 Million
Second-Round	3,085	$59.4 Million	$288.0 Million
Total	6,218	$161.9 Million	$542.8 Million
Commercial Service Visitor Industry
First-Round	44	$836,000	$2.5 Million
Second-Round	20	$494,200	$1.6 Million
Total	64	$1.3 Million	$4.1 Million
General Aviation Visitor Industry
First-Round	13	$252,200	$603,700
Second-Round	5	$162,500	$443,100
Total	18	$414,700	$1.0 Million
Total	6,300	$163.6 Million	$547.9 Million

Bolton Field Airport
	Jobs	Annual Payroll	Annual Economic Activity
Airport Tenants
First-Round	58	$2.1 Million	$4.3 Million
Second-Round	73	$1.6 Million	$3.9 Million
Total	131	$3.7 Million	$8.2 Million
General Aviation Visitor Industry
First-Round	31	$601,400	$1.4 Million
Second-Round	12	$387,400	$1.1 million
Total	43	$988,800	$2.5 Million
Total	174	$4.7 Million	$10.7 Million

Total

29,994

$793.1 Million

$2.7 Billion

For more information, view the Economic Impact Brochure or the full report.

In addition, a 2001 University of Cincinnati study measured the impact of Rickenbacker International Airport, Foreign-Trade Zone No. 138 and the surrounding industrial parks. Copies of this full report are available by contacting the Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s Finance Division at (614) 239-3172.