Economic Impact | Memphis International Airport

Memphis International Airport produces a total output of $28.6 billion annually. The total output represents the impact of cargo operations, passenger operations, construction and the impact of visitors to the metro area. At $28.6 billion, Memphis International Airport has among the highest per capita impacts on a community of any airport in the United States.

The total impact of the airport is represented not just in financial data, but in jobs. According to the 2009 study prepared by the Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research / Center for Manpower Studies at the University of Memphis, 220,000 jobs are generated by the airport, representing 34 percent or more than one in three jobs in the Memphis metro area. The direct and indirect impacts of passenger operations at MEM, led by the Delta Air Lines hub, are in excess of $1.3 billion annually. Nearly 10,307 jobs are directly tied to passenger operations at the Airport.

The Economic Impact Study by the University of Memphis also detailed the results of an airport usage survey of local business leaders. Among the results of the survey were the following findings:

56.0 percent agreed or strongly agreed that growth at Memphis International would automatically cause their businesses to grow.
38.4 percent agreed or strongly agreed that a growing airport would provide an incentive for their company to move activities to Memphis.
40.8 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their company’s future decisions to invest in Memphis will be partially based on services at Memphis International.

In addition, the survey showed that 76.8 percent of survey respondents would rate the quality of passenger air services as high or very high, and 60 percent would rate the quality of cargo air services as high or very high.

In 1998, the economic impact of Memphis International was calculated at $12.9 billion. In 2004, the study showed a $20.7 billion impact.


	home flight information passenger information directions and parking shop, dine and relax business opportunities about the airport FAQ Privacy Policy Contact Us Economic Impact Memphis International Airport produces a total output of $28.6 billion annually. The total output represents the impact of cargo operations, passenger operations, construction and the impact of visitors to the metro area. At $28.6 billion, Memphis International Airport has among the highest per capita impacts on a community of any airport in the United States. The total impact of the airport is represented not just in financial data, but in jobs. According to the 2009 study prepared by the Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research / Center for Manpower Studies at the University of Memphis, 220,000 jobs are generated by the airport, representing 34 percent or more than one in three jobs in the Memphis metro area. The direct and indirect impacts of passenger operations at MEM, led by the Delta Air Lines hub, are in excess of $1.3 billion annually. Nearly 10,307 jobs are directly tied to passenger operations at the Airport. The Economic Impact Study by the University of Memphis also detailed the results of an airport usage survey of local business leaders. Among the results of the survey were the following findings: 56.0 percent agreed or strongly agreed that growth at Memphis International would automatically cause their businesses to grow. 38.4 percent agreed or strongly agreed that a growing airport would provide an incentive for their company to move activities to Memphis. 40.8 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their company’s future decisions to invest in Memphis will be partially based on services at Memphis International. In addition, the survey showed that 76.8 percent of survey respondents would rate the quality of passenger air services as high or very high, and 60 percent would rate the quality of cargo air services as high or very high. In 1998, the economic impact of Memphis International was calculated at $12.9 billion. In 2004, the study showed a $20.7 billion impact.