Report Finds General Aviation Contributes $339B to U.S. Economy

New study details GA’s multibillion-dollar impact and support for over 1.3 million American jobs.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Airplane on a runway [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation (GA) is a significant economic engine for the U.S., supporting approximately 1.33 million jobs and contributing an estimated $339.2 billion to the national economy.
GA provides critical access to over 4,400 public-use airports across the country, vastly outnumbering those served by commercial airlines.
These GA airports are vital for thousands of communities, serving as essential transportation links that connect people and businesses to jobs, healthcare, emergency services, and markets.

See a mistake? Contact us.

General aviation supports about 1.33 million jobs and contributes an estimated $339.2 billion to the U.S. economy, serving as a significant economic engine despite common perceptions that it is primarily a tax-supported hobby for the wealthy, according to a recent report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The report, officially entitled “The Impact of General Aviation on State and Local Economies,” was created by AASHTO, the Alliance for Aviation Across America, and the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO).

Designed as a communication resource for state aviation and transportation officials, the report lists the economic impact of general aviation (GA) for each state and notes the total for the country.

According to the report: