Airport Economic Benefit Study

As a part of the 2025 Scottsdale Airport (SDL) Master Plan, an economic benefit analysis (EBA) was conducted to capture the economic impact generated by both on-airport and applicable off-airport activities. The study uses 2024 as the base year for the study, as it offered the most complete and up-to-date year of data reflecting current airport conditions at the time of the data collection and analysis phases.

The Airport supports a wide range of users, is home to many on-airport businesses and is the location of the Scottsdale Airpark, which is one of the largest employment centers in Arizona. The Airport totaled 166,588 operations in 2024, reflecting its role as a high-traffic GA airport in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (2025 SDL Airport Master Plan Update.) This level of activity highlights the Airport’s significance not only as a vital transportation hub but also as a key contributor to economic growth, supporting a diverse range of aviation activities.

With its ability to serve such a broad mix of aviation activities, the Airport stands as a key asset to the local and surrounding economies. This EBA was conducted to demonstrate the contribution that the Airport makes to the local economy, highlighting its role in supporting jobs, generating positive area-wide impacts, and serving as a catalyst for regional growth and connectivity.

2025 Scottsdale Airport Mater Plan Economic Benefit Analysis

Combined total impacts are generated by both on-airport and off-airport activities at SDL, through the direct, indirect, and induced impacts from Airport operations, capital expenditures, business tenants, visitor spending, and aviation-related Airpark businesses. On-Airport activities accounted for 1,701 jobs, $155.3 million in payroll, and $397.1 million in output.

Off-Airport activities are divided into visitor spending, which supported 1,932 jobs, $101.5 million in payroll, and $286.3 million in output; and Airpark businesses, which contributed 1,538 jobs, $135.4 million in payroll, and $402.9 million in output.

In total, SDL supports more than 5,170 jobs, $392.2 million in payroll, and approximately $1.1 billion in annual output. The aggregation of these impacts highlights the Airport’s essential role in supporting employment, income, and business activity throughout Scottsdale and the surrounding region.

Source: Kimley-Horn, 2025; IMPLAN V.25, 2025. Notes: Dollars are presented in 2025 dollars. Dollar values are rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum due to rounding.

The ADOT Aeronautics Group in collaboration with IHS Markit and Kimley-Horn have announced the 2021 Arizona Aviation Economic Impact Study (2021 Arizona AEIS) results. This study validates the value of airport investment. The study revealed that in 2019 Arizona's 67 publicly owned, public-use airports; the aerospace manufacturing and research industry; and 10 principal military installations contributed $121.4B in economic activity (output) and supported 575,826 jobs earning $34.2B in wages in Arizona - demonstrating that continued investment into aviation is vital for the ongoing strength, diversity, and vitality of our state.

Scottsdale Airport highlights:

• On-airport activities: $215.3 million
• Visitor spending: $90.8 million
• Jobs: 3,926
• Earnings $195 million
• Economic Activity $566.6 million

Scottsdale Airport/Airpark economic impact:

• Jobs: 5,970
• Earnings: $320.2 million
• Economic Activity: $1 billion

The study used data sources from Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale’s Tourism and Events Department, Colliers International, Scottsdale Airport and Airpark Employer survey, Federal Aviation Administration, Longwoods International and IMPLAN Group. The IMPLAN model is typically used nationwide to study economic contribution of airports.