The Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Division of Aeronautics released the 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study (CEIS), highlighting substantial economic impact growth for Colorado Springs Airport (COS) since the previous study conducted in 2020, based on 2018 business revenue.
The 2025 study, based on economic activity in 2023 measures employment, payroll, value added and total business revenue, confirms that COS continues to be a major driver of economic activity in the Pikes Peak region. According to the 2025 report, Colorado Springs Airport generated $5.2 billion in total business revenue in 2023, a notable increase from $3.4 billion reported on the 2020 report - a growth of approximately 53 percent over five years.
“The 2025 Economic Impact Study shows an impressive growth of the economic impact generated by Colorado Springs Airport. It underscores COS’ crucial role in supporting the local economy, job creation, and regional business expansion,” said Alex Kovacs, Acting Director of Colorado Springs Airport. “This report demonstrates the airport’s continued strength and its substantial impact on the local economy through commercial air travel, commercial cargo, general aviation, military operations, and economic development in the region.”
Key findings from the 2025 study vs. 2020 study*
*Total annual economic impact includes both on and off-airport visitor spending
• Jobs: Total jobs increased from 25,093 to 34,829, an increase of 39 percent.
• Payroll: Total payroll has grown from $1.5 billion to $2.7 billion, a 78 percent increase.
• Value added: The airport’s contribution to Colorado’s gross state product increased from $2.4 billion to $3.7 billion, a 54 percent increase.
On-airport and visitor spending impacts
• On-airport activity: The report found that on-airport business activity generated $4.3 billion, a significant increase from $2.9 billion, a 48 percent increase.
• Visitor spending: Off-airport visitor spending contributed $876.9 million, compared to $535.6 million, a 64 percent rise.
“This study showcases the airport’s positive impact on Colorado’s economy and its ability to support economic resilience and workforce development,” said Kovacs. “COS plays a pivotal role in ensuring connectivity for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. We are dedicated to serving our community.”
The 2025 CEIS study underscores the continued importance of airports like COS in driving economic growth, supporting job creation, and strengthening regional business activity. The full study, including individual airport data and interactive maps, is available here.