Air Cargo System Plan UpdatesAviation and Spaceports Office

Air Cargo: Vital to Florida’s Economy


Air freight in Florida has a significant impact on the overall economy. The air freight industry facilitates economic activity via the services rendered to people and industries by enabling the movement of goods necessary to conduct economic pursuits. Transport, trade services, employment and tax revenue all contribute to Florida’s economy.

  • Employment – Economic impacts of air freight extend beyond the 7,920 employees directly employed in the provision of air freight transport services. When trade-related users are included, air freight-related employment in Florida totals 625,410 jobs, which represent 5.8% of the 10.8 million jobs statewide.
  • Income – The $31.2 billion earned by 625,410 total employees represent 6.2% of Florida’s total labor income.
  • Value-Added – The combined value-added impact of $48.2 billion associated with the air freight services and users represents 5.8% of the state’s Gross State Product (GSP).
  • Output – Total sales associated with all air freight-related activity equates to roughly $98.8 billion, representing 6.7% of Florida’s total economic output.
  • Tax Revenues – The federal, state, and local tax revenues associated with air freight-related economic activity totals $4.1 billion (5.9% of State).

While many airports are capable of accommodating air cargo activity, 14 of the 20 commercial service airports in Florida had scheduled air cargo activity on dedicated freighter (all-cargo carriers and integrated express carriers) or wide-body passenger aircraft in 2016.

This study provides a comprehensive review of global air cargo trends and their implications to the Florida air cargo market.


This brochure summarizes air cargo impact in Florida’s economy, airport market share and industry trends.

This update presents analysis of air cargo activity between 2008 and 2012, and highlights significant changes.

This update presents analysis of air cargo activity between 2006 and 2008, and highlights significant changes.

This update presents analysis of air cargo activity between 2006 and 2007, and highlights significant changes.

This original study presented analysis of air cargo activity prior to 2006.