Portfolio

LAX Economic Impact Study

HR&A advised Los Angeles World Airports on the local and regional economic impacts of redeveloping and expanding Los Angeles International Airport.

HR&A prepared detailed regional and local economic impact analyses necessary to evaluate alternative Master Plan concepts for the future of the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) as they evolved over nearly 10 years, and through three different mayoral administrations.

Using extensive REMI and IMPLAN modeling, the firm projected future baseline economic conditions and forecasted conditions under alternative development scenarios. Our forecasts considered the City of Los Angeles, various subareas of the City, the County of Los Angeles, the other four urban counties in the region, and the five-county Southern California region as a whole.

HR&A also assisted senior management, City officials and other project team leaders to respond to questions from a wide range of elected officials and other local and regional leaders, and the general public, about the economic implications of the alternatives.

Our work with LAX led to airport economic impact work across the country.

  • In association with the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission and other consultants, HR&A estimated the economic value to Los Angeles of accommodating new transoceanic flights, like those associated with next-generation aircraft.
  • Prepared regional and local economic impact analyses for Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s O’Hare Modernization Program and alternatives, for the Chicago Department of Airports and the FAA.
  • Provided two rounds of regional economic impact analysis for future options to expand capacity at San Diego International Airport, first for the San Diego Association of Governments and then for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
  • Contributed to the socioeconomic forecasts used by aviation consultants to the FAA to analyze future airspace and airport capacity in the New York City-Northern New Jersey-Connecticut-Delaware metro area.
  • Prepared an in-depth economic impact and fiscal impact analysis demonstrating that the Santa Monica Airport generates $275 million in direct and indirect economic activity for the City of Santa Monica, and supports almost 1,500 full- and part-time jobs.