Appleton International Airport has a total economic impact of nearly $2 billion on the region, according to data released by Outagamie County officials.
The last economic impact study was conducted in 2015 when Appleton International Airport generated $676 million in total economic impact.
Other comparative measures are:
- The airport supported 7,626 jobs in 2024, including airport operations, roles with tenant companies at the airport, jobs supported by visitor spending, and supported sectors such as upply chain effects. In the 2015 study, the airport supported 3,267 jobs.
- The airport generated $1.3 billion of direct business sales. This mostly includes spending from airport operations, with some additional spending by airport visitors. This direct activity generates additional impacts as the airport and tenants make purchases from other businesses, and as employees spend their wages. In the 2015 study, the airport generated $432 million of direct business sales.
- The total tax impact of the Appleton airport was $325.4 million, including $205.1 million paid in state and local taxes. This measures taxes generated by the airport and related businesses.
“It is clear the airport is our most valuable economic engine,” said Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson. “Our growth has a multiplier effect on the region and supports our continued investment in the expansion of services and facilities. The airport provides nationwide access to businesses and consumers and that makes the Fox Cities a great place to live and do business.”
The report includes direct impacts from airport operations and visitor spending, indirect impacts as airport businesses make purchases to support their operations, and induced impacts as airport and tourism sector employees spend their wages in the local economy. The economic impact includes Outagamie, Brown, Winnebago, and Calumet counties. It was conducted by the Tourism Economics group within Oxford Economics.
Since the 2015 study was conducted, the airport has reached significant milestones:
- The airport served over a million passengers for the first time in 2024, compared to 512,000 in 2015.
- The average number of departures per day was nearly 21 in 2024, rising from 13 in 2015.
- Employment at the airport has more than doubled, with 3,274 employees compared to 1,314 in 2015.
“Our continued success is due to innovative leadership on the governmental level and the dedication of our team members to service,” said Airport Director Abe Weber.
When the airport opened in 1965, Air Wisconsin Airlines was offering flights between Appleton and Chicago. Now the airport offers service from Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines to 21 non-stop destinations
The airport recently opened a $66 million concourse expansion and is renovating the existing concourse and front drive lanes.
