Flying Economy: County Airports Spur Growth

easton airport
Easton Airport

On a recent visit to Talbot County, MACo toured Easton Airport, a general aviation airport that serves the aviation needs of Easton and its surrounding communities. Owned and operated by the county, Easton Airport was first constructed for use by the military during World War II and later returned to Talbot County.  Today, Easton Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the region, with annual aircraft operations of 160,000.

The economic contributions of Easton Airport and other Maryland Airports are detailed in the recent study, Maryland: Economic Impact of Airports, prepared for the Maryland Aviation Administration.  According to the study,

In the year 2011/2012, it is estimated that aviation activity in the State of Maryland created approximately:

  •  102,474 direct, induced, and indirect jobs
  •  $4.0 billion of personal wages and salaries
  •  $6.2 billion of business revenue
  •  $0.5 billion of state and local taxes
  •  $2.2 billion of local purchases for supplies and services
Easton Airport is one of several airports in Maryland owned by county governments.  Bay Bridge Airport (Queen Anne’s County), Carroll County Regional Airport, Crisfield-Somerset County Airport, Garrett County Airport, Montgomery County Airpark, St.Mary’s County Regional Airport, Cambridge-Dorchester Airport are other examples of publicly owned airports.
For more information, see the complete report of the Maryland Aviation Administration.