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Reply to Arthur Clay’s Discussion Post

I agree with the author’s statement that airports are a hub for economic growth and

development and provide a region with essential global connections. However, I do also believe

that these airports should and are responsible for improving their local’s social and

environmental conditions in as much as the economic aspect is first. As per Young & Wells

(2019), airports are economic engines in a community usually through job creation and business

growth which ultimately increases revenue generation.

According to the author, the plethora of international and regional airports in

Mecklenburg County has brougham an influx of jobs. The Mecklenburg community has

benefited in several ways financially and economically in more ways than just job creation.

Airports, or other businesses of their magnitude, present their communities with three forms of

economic impacts. They include; direct, indirect, and induced economic effects.

Direct effects affect the community through jobs and hiring on airport premises and

operations, and visitor spending. In terms of jobs, at least one of every four (1 in 4) jobs in

Mecklenburg County is related to airport activity in the region. Visitor spending comes in many

different forms. First a more prominent is tourism. Airports are responsible for bringing in

tourists from all parts of the world who come to spend in the region. Hotels, gift shops, and even

other forms of transport benefit from this. Second is the business aspect, the airport brings in

people from different parts of the business who invest in businesses or set up their businesses in

the area. This ultimately improves the financial standing of Mecklenburg County. Indirect

economic effects from the airports in the region are a result of the airport using local businesses

as their service provider. PIT uses companies around the area for service and labor such as

internet provision and construction hence impacting people around the region indirectly. Induced
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effects are a result of the direct and indirect businesses spending and investing their resources in

the region.

Reply to Qingwen Meng’s Discussion Post

From the discussion, we learn that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is

actively constructing another terminal on its premises. This will have numerous economic

repercussions on the airport and the community at large. The first effect will be job creation. The

terminal will require staff at various posts to maintain the smooth operation of the airport. From

security to cleaners and guides, numerous residents will get a job at the airport as a result of this

adding to the already high number of employees at the airport. Another advantage is that adding

a terminal will allow the airport to host and work with other airlines. This will increase the

number of flights to and from the airport as well as diversify routes. This promotes the political

and economic responsibilities of IAH. Increasing traffic will also benefit revenue generation for

the airport as well as businesses in the region.

I was also able to learn that the Houston Airport System (HAS) is promoting its new

Sustainable Management Plan (SMP) (Houston Airports, 2019). The HAS, being the governing

body that operates IAH, is committed to supporting the City of Houston’s Climate Action Plan

by using the SMP. Essentially, the SMP is an initiative developed to maximize the airport’s

sustainability and efficiency in economic, social, political, and environmental priorities. This

plan is aimed at streamlining all airport activities and resources such as waste management and

recycling, water, greenhouse emissions, sustainable assets and design, infrastructure, and

procurement among others (Houston Airports, 2019).

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References

Houston Airports. (2019, September 25). Houston Airport System unveils sustainable

management plan to align its local, Global Goals. Houston Airport System. Retrieved

July 16, 2022, from https://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/releases/houston-airport-

system-unveils-sustainable-management-plan-align-its-local-global-goals

Young, S. B. & Wells, A. T. (2019). Airport Planning & Management, 7th ed. New York:

McGraw-Hill.