New information released by the Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN) demonstrates that not only are Southern Ontario’s airports important to travellers, but they also have a significant impact on their local communities, the greater Southern Ontario region, the Province and Canada.
Made public today at the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference, this new data confirms the important economic benefits of SOAN.
Located across the province, SOAN member airports are important commercial centres that enable a range of essential economic and social functions.
Launched last year, SOAN is committed to seizing the opportunity the region’s growth will bring to local communities.
The eleven commercially significant airports that make up SOAN enable easier connectivity for local vacationers, support area tourism, facilitate business connections and help simplify goods movement for area producers, like manufacturers with just-in-time delivery commitments.
In 2017, SOAN airports facilitated the travel of nearly 52 million passengers into, out of and through Southern Ontario. Analysis confirms that operations at SOAN airports put approximately $2.3 billion dollars in tax revenue back into municipal, provincial and federal reserves.
This figure includes direct operations of the airports: wages, aviation fuel, concession spending, taxis and rental cars, plus taxes on Airport Improvement Fees (AIFs) and the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC).
Airports are also some of the most important employers in their surrounding communities. Airport and airline staff, ground handlers, airplane fuelers and snow removal experts all play a vital role in getting people and goods moving, while supporting the economies in the communities where they live.
This range of employment opportunities provided by Southern Ontario airports generated more than 55,000 jobs in 2017.
Southern Ontario is fortunate to have a number of aviation assets that are vital contributors to the communities they serve, driving tourism and business travel, helping to train the next generation of aviators and providing a range of other essential functions for their regions, the province and the country.
