Considering the economic impact of a regional airport conjures up images of executives landing on corporate jets, staying at nearby hotels and dining at local hotspots.
While that’s true, there’s a lot more at stake in how airports drive revenue growth, experts say. Also featured in the image are cargo, flight schools, leisure travelers, individual pilots with Cessnas, and more.
At DuPage Airport, “business is booming,” said Executive Director Mark Doles.
“The company and business traffic is extremely heavy – as is the flight training.”
Diversification is one reason the state’s public airports generate $95.5 billion in annual aggregate economic activity, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Subtracting O’Hare and Midway, the remaining airports account for nearly $50 billion, according to the Illinois Aviation Economic Impact Analysis, published in 2021.
Over at Chicago Executive Airport, Executive Director Jeffrey Miller lists several jobs related to the Wheeling facility.
“The person who tows the plane, the person who fuels the plane … You have customer service representatives, limousine drivers — they all touch that plane,” he said.
West Chicago’s DuPage Airport generates $1.5 billion in annual economic activity and creates over 5,500 jobs, IDOT found.
The $1.5 billion represents not only revenue from tenants, but also airport construction, visitor spending, airport payroll, air cargo operations, and aviation-related businesses.
“DuPage is an important economic engine not just for DuPage County but for the entire region,” Doles said, adding that the airport has the third most takeoffs and landings in the state.
The airport’s 7,570-foot runway and U.S. Customs and Border Protection service not only attract local businesses, “the companies that do business with them also come to visit,” Doles said. “We cleared 250 to 300 flights a year through customs.”
It’s also a magnet for leisure travelers. “From DuPage you are non-stop throughout Europe, South America and Asia from a single source.”
Operated jointly by Wheeling and Prospect Heights, Chicago Executive Airport is one of the busiest facilities in the state. The economic impact is $429.1 million, according to IDOT, and new data shows 2,444 direct and indirect jobs are linked to the facility.
The airport has a US Customs program and hosts corporate aircraft for clients such as Walgreens, CVS, Allstate Insurance Co., and Caterpillar Inc.
“We have (approximately) 28 Fortune 500 companies within a 30 minute drive of this airport,” Miller said.
The airport also has an extensive charter program. “You can rent an airplane, charter an airplane and fly anywhere you want, whether it’s for vacation or business,” Miller said.
Both DuPage and Chicago Executive Airports offer popular flight school programs.
Here’s a look at other players.
• Waukegan National Airport is heavily used by corporate customers. Economic Impact: $181.6 million.
• Aurora Municipal Airport is home to the Experimental Aircraft Association and other users. Economic Impact: $140 million.
• Lewis University Airport serves cargo, business and leisure flights. Economic Impact: $92.8 million.
• The Schaumburg Regional Airport offers activities such as reporting, air inspection, law enforcement operations and flight testing. Economic Impact: $33.9 million.
• Lake in the Hills Airport serves business and leisure pilots. Economic Impact: $29.4 million.
• Joliet Regional Airport is primarily used for leisure flights and inspections. Economic Impact: $15 million.
According to the IDOT report, the economic impact of O’Hare was estimated at $37.1 billion and that of Midway International Airport at $8.5 billion.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated passenger air travel for months, but it’s bouncing back.
“We are exceeding pre-pandemic levels,” Doles said. “There was a lot of catching up to do, especially when it came to business trips.”
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