Business

AVL saw highest number of passengers ever in 2022

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 13, 2023

A record 1,838,793 passengers used the Asheville Regional Airport in 2022, a 29 percent increase over 2021.

Also just released, the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation economic impact study showed that AVL contributes $2.26 billion in annual economic impact to the region. The airport supports 10,655 jobs, contributes $118 million in tax revenue to the region, and more than $700 million in personal income, the study said.

“The airport continues to be an anchor organization in western North Carolina, providing global connectivity for residents and visitors, as well as contributing to the economic vitality of the entire region,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., President and CEO. “Our growth is linked directly to our local travelers’ willingness to fly from their local airport, the commitment our airline partners have made to serve our region and grow their air service, and to the increasing popularity of the area as a nationally known travel destination. Now the third-busiest airport in the state, the impact of our airport continues to expand, which is very good for our region.”

In total, North Carolina’s publicly owned airports are an important sector in the overall economic makeup of the state. Airports contribute $72 billion to the state’s economy, which is approximately 11% of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or total economic output.