Alexandria, VA- A recently-completed study conducted for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority shows that Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports generate over $9 billion for the local economy in combined direct airport spending and associated spending in the visitor industry and that the airports provide over 27,500 jobs at their facilities. Those airport employees earned neary $1.3 billion yearly.

Said James E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Airports Authority, " Washington's airports provide a very tangible economic benefit to our region in addition to the immeasurable value of connecting our area to the world and enabling us to travel conveniently for business and leisure.

"A significant message in these economic indicators is the strength of our region's market which has enabled the aviation industry to show some positive signs of recovery and which keeps our airports as important destinations for travelers."

The study, based on 2002 statistics, provides a quantitative analysis of the benefits associated with the operation of the two airports, which were used by over 30 million passengers that year.

The Airports generated business revenue of over $4.7 billion; employees and businesses at the airports paid $237 million in state and local taxes, and the federal government received $382 million in airport-specific taxes.

The Airports Authority's ongoing capital development construction program to expand Dulles continued through 2002 with an investment of $286 million. The additional importance of this construction to the local and regional economy is shown in the 2,317 jobs supported by the expansion and improvement projects.

In the current year of 2003, Dulles International Airport remains the fourth busiest U.S. gateway to Europe, a position it has held for the last three years. This continuing role as the region's international airport, along with new domestic service, requires the Airports Authority to continue to make improvements and build new facilities at Dulles.

This year a second parking garage was opened and preparatory work has begun for the construction of a station in the Terminal to serve the Airport Automated Train System that will one day replace the Mobile Lounges as the chief system of passenger transportation between the Terminal and the concourses.

This year alone, it is expected that $305 million will be spent on capital construction projects, and plans are underway for the Airports Authority to issue new bonds to fund the expansion program this fall.