BNA Generated Enormous Economic Impact in 2019

Updated airport study shows $8.1 billion in regional activity

NASHVILLE – With air travel picking up and key components of its expansion and renovation program set for completion, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority today released an updated study on the economic impacts generated by Nashville International Airport (BNA) for the calendar year 2019. The report, commissioned by the Airport Authority and conducted by the research firm of Martin Associates, reveals that BNA’s total economic impact exceeded $8 billion, a 14 percent increase over 2018 and an increase of 131 percent since a similar 2012 study.

Additional findings show that more than 76,000 area jobs and $3.2 billion in personal income were supported by activity at BNA in 2019. That same activity resulted in $6.8 billion in business revenue and produced more than $464 million of tax dollars for state, local and federal coffers. As pointed out in the study, BNA receives no local tax dollars.

“Passenger traffic at BNA is obviously down right now as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting decline in air travel,” said Doug Kreulen, BNA president and CEO. “But the numbers in this report confirm the airport’s role as an engine of enormous economic activity and job creation for Nashville and Middle Tennessee. With travel and business activity starting to increase, we look forward to fulfilling that role once again and helping lead the region’s economic recovery both now and in the years to come.”

The economic impact study analyzed job creation, personal income growth, tax revenue generated and other factors during the 2019 calendar year. Aviation activity at BNA generated the following:

BNA 2019 numbers:

  • 76,154 Tennessee jobs and $3.2 billion in personal income.
  • $6.8 billion of business revenue to firms providing goods and services at the airport and to the local visitor industry.
  • $189.7 million in state and local taxes and $254 million in federal aviation-specific taxes.
  • 4.9 million visitors arriving through BNA spent $3.3 billion in the greater Nashville area for food, lodging, entertainment, retail, transportation services and more.
  • $8.1 billion in total economic impact (combines business revenue and the respending/consumption impact).

In 2019, some 18.3 million passengers traveled through BNA, an increase of more than 14 percent over the previous year, setting an all-time passenger record for the seventh consecutive calendar year.

BNA Vision overview:

The airport is in the midst of a major expansion and renovation plan known as BNA Vision, with recently completed projects including a six-level Terminal Garage, Interim International Arrivals Building (IAB) expansion and upgrade, phase 1 of the Terminal Apron and Taxilane Expansion and North Terminal Wing Expansion

A second Terminal Garage with a new Valet center opened on June 18, 2020, and the new Concourse D is set for launch in mid-July.
Other projects to be completed by 2023 include a major terminal renovation, state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility, on-site hotel, another Terminal Garage and a variety of new dining, retail and service amenities.

The study also analyzed the impacts of Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport (JWN), located just west of downtown. The leading general aviation airport in the state, in 2019 JWN saw some 86,500 operations and contributed $35.3 million in total economic impact, while supporting 327 jobs, generating $1.1 million in state and local taxes, and producing $19.2 million in personal income.

For more information:

With nearly 18.3 million passengers in in 2019, Nashville International Airport (BNA) has been one of the fastest growing airports in North America. For more information, visit flynashville.com. Follow us on Facebook: @NashvilleInternationalAirport, Twitter: @Fly_Nashville and Instagram: @FlyNashville. Learn more about BNA Vision, our growth and expansion plan for the airport, at BNAVision.com.

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