Posted On: July 25, 2019
When you think of the Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), you probably think of a convenient option to catch a flight. But the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) 2019 economic impact study concluded that, in addition to stress-free traveling, the airport generates $2.1 billion in economic impact for the region annually.
To reach the figure, FDOT took into consideration both direct and indirect economic impacts in four primary categories (on-airport activity, visitor spending, industry reliance and military spending), as well as a carefully crafted multiplier to properly measure the recirculation and multiplication of funds through the economy. This means the figure not only considers the dollars generated from flights in and out of DAB, but also dollars spent throughout the community by visitors, originating as airport passenger traffic. Another important factor taken in to account is payroll tied to employment centers based on the airfield. The impact of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was also included in the calculation.
“A critical, yet sometimes unknown, aspect of the economic impact our airport provides to our community extends beyond air service,” said Jay Cassens, director of business development at the airport. “While the airport’s primary goal is to serve the traveling public, it also generates a tremendous amount of local economic activity through the airport owned properties. Our airfield properties provide essential access and support for several aviation service facilities, corporate hangars and several renowned flight training schools.”
The 2019 figure has almost doubled since the last survey in 2014, which reported DAB’s economic impact at $1.1 billion.
For further details, see the full report on DAB.