A new report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation has found that the industry add $88 billion to the state’s economy each year.
The 2025 North Carolina: The State of Aviation report found that the industry support more than 427,000 jobs, and has a substantial economic impact on the state.
“North Carolina’s aviation industry is not only a cornerstone of our economy, but also a key driver of innovation,” Nick Short, interim director of the NCDOT Division of Aviation, said. “This report highlights the critical role our airports play in fostering economic growth, supporting new technologies, and positioning the state as a leader in the future of aviation.”
The biennial report looks at the influence the industry has on the state’s economy through an analysis of the state’s 10 commercial service airports and 62 general aviation airports. Those facilities play a vital role in supporting every sectors in the state including agriculture, military operations, emergency response and aerospace innovation.
According to the report, the state’s airport are seeing significant growth in passenger services with total passengers rising to 74.3 million annually. By connecting passengers to nearly 190 business and leisure destinations, the airports provide significant returns to local communities by generating $6.8 million in local property tax revenues.
In an example of the industry’s impact, the report said a single $15 million aircraft based at Hickory Regional Airport generates the same property taxes as 60 typical homes. However, the report said, an airport doesn’t require the same level of public infrastructure that a residential area would.
Data for the report was compiled and analyzed for NCDOT by N.C. State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education, and were calculated based on factors like jobs supported by the airports and the businesses that rely on them, as well as the impact of airport capital projects and operations.