Australia’s airports

 Economic powerhouses and critical infrastructure

Airports are economic powerhouses within their local communities, delivering $17. 3 billion to the national economy each year. They are often the second highest driver of economic activity in their cities outside of central business districts, and consequently they ensure more than 115,000 people around the country have jobs to go to each day. They fulfil the basic social function of connecting individuals, families and communities with the rest of the country and indeed the world.

Australia’s Regional Airports – Facts, Myths and Challenge was launched recently by the Australian Airports Association (AAA) as a follow-on study to research quantifying the economic and social impact of airports across Australia. The new report demonstrates regional airports are struggling, with as many as 50 per cent of Australia’s regional airports operating at a loss each year. Due to the tyranny of distance, the costs of maintaining and expanding regional airport infrastructure are often up to three times higher than those incurred by airports in the major population centres.