During the COVID-19 Pandemic commercial airlines were decimated. According to an International Air Transport Association report several factors included fewer people traveling, job losses and high operation costs.  Although the flying industry in Minnesota has now recovered says the Duluth Aviation Authority. They announced the results of a released economic impact report on how Duluth International Airport is boosting air travel to the Northland.

According to their report, the Duluth International Airport (DLH) made an economic output of $1.2 billion in 2024. That’s considerably higher than where they were at in 2019 generating $760 million. Mayor Roger Reinert says Duluth is home to Minnesota’s second-busiest commercial airport and connects to international travel.

“Logistics and transportation matter. In our next era of economic development, those transportation connections are going to be so important,” Reinert said. “The Duluth Airport acts as a catalyst for regional growth. Attracting new investments, facilitating the expansion of our existing businesses, and positioning our region as an attractive place for economic development.”

The Duluth International Airport is boosting their aircraft infrastructure with several capital investment projects in the next five years. Some of these investments are a new air traffic control tower, fixing the taxi runways, and building another hangar.

“All the programs we work with, not only with the tower, but a lot of our other airfield infrastructure have been untouched today. So we still feel good that funding will be there. The air traffic control tower, we are still working to secure full funding for that project. Both through the federal program and the state program.”

Tom Werner, the Executive Director of DLH says the aviation industry is booming in the Twin Ports. He also added one of the reasons is from partnerships with local businesses. These include the 148th fighter wing, Lake Superior College’s pilot program, or Cirrus Aircraft.

“When we take pause to look at the diversity of this cluster, it’s incredibly resilient to economic changes,” Werner said. “We look forward to capitalizing on that in the future.”

Cirrus Aircraft’s President of Innovation and Operations, Pat Waddick says the aviation industry supports over 33,000 jobs and generates $4.8 Billion in GDP. He continued saying working with the Duluth Airport Authority, the City and state legislature can help make Duluth into a leader in growing aviation.

“The impact of aviation in the region, the state, and the country has been incredible. We look forward to continuing to partner locally, and grow our company and this community,” Waddick said. “As we continue to the future, we are working to make Minnesota more attractive to aviation business and the workforce.”

DLH plans to spend an average of $30 million every year until 2029 on several capital investment projects.