Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center Drive Over $1.6 Billion in Economic Activity
New Study Reveals Salina Airport Authority Tenants Support More Than 12,000 Jobs in Saline County
A newly released economic impact study by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University confirms the Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center (SLN/AIC) are powerful economic engines for Saline County—generating over $1.62 billion in economic activity and supporting 12,376 jobs in 2024.
Commissioned by the Salina Airport Authority, the study highlights the contributions of more than 100 businesses, public institutions, educational organizations, and military units that call SLN/AIC home. Together, they are responsible for 41.4% of Saline County’s total economic output and 31.1% of local employment.
“SLN and the Airport Industrial Center continue to be the hub of innovation, education, commerce, and defense activity in Salina,” said Pieter Miller, C.M., Executive Director for the Salina Airport Authority. “This study quantifies the economic significance of the Salina Regional Airport and Airport Industrial Center, unmatched in our region.”
Since the last study released in 2021, the total economic output of SLN/AIC has grown by 25%, increasing from $1.30 billion in 2020 to $1.62 billion in 2024. Jobs have surged by 77%, growing from 7,005 in 2020 to 12,376 in 2024. Notably, private business output alone rose from $1.1 billion to $1.55 billion—a $450 million increase—while job growth in the private sector jumped from 5,209 to 8,700. This substantial progress reflects a thriving ecosystem of tenants, employers, and support organizations continuing to invest in Salina.
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