{"id":2035,"date":"2021-08-24T18:15:09","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T18:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crp.trb.org\/uat\/acrp0358\/?p=2035"},"modified":"2022-08-03T18:15:33","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T18:15:33","slug":"greensboro-piedmont-triad-international-airport-expanding-traffic-in-the-shadow-of-larger-regions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crp.trb.org\/acrpwebresource12\/2021\/08\/24\/greensboro-piedmont-triad-international-airport-expanding-traffic-in-the-shadow-of-larger-regions\/","title":{"rendered":"Greensboro Piedmont Triad International Airport: Expanding Traffic in the Shadow of Larger Regions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"GSO<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Piedmont Triad Region (the Region or the Triad) in north-central North Carolina encompasses 12 counties and is anchored by three cities: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. The area\u2019s combined statistical area (CSA) is the 33rd largest in the country. Greensboro is the largest of the three cities. Home to approximately 1.7 million, the Region is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO or the airport). To the southwest is the larger Greater Charlotte area, home to nearly 2.8 million and the location of one of American Airlines\u2019 hubs, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). To the east is the Raleigh-Durham area, with a population of about 2.1 million, and home to the state\u2019s capital and Research Triangle Park, served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Based on passenger traffic, GSO is the third largest airport in North Carolina after CLT and RDU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GSO
The Piedmont Triad Region in North-Central North Carolina<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Region and Its Economy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the mid-1900s, the Region\u2019s economy has evolved from being centered largely on tobacco, textiles, and furniture to featuring a blend of trade, manufacturing, and service businesses, as well as its universities and colleges. Local industry is characterized by the production of machinery, electronics equipment, textiles and apparel, tobacco, and the provision of financial services. The region has significant strength in economic activity relating to transportation. The Piedmont Triad is home to nearly 200 aerospace companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/th>2008<\/th>2019<\/th>Change #<\/th>Change %<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Population (000s)<\/td>1,565<\/td>1,689<\/td>124<\/td>8%<\/td><\/tr>
Total Employment (000s)<\/td>923<\/td>982<\/td>59<\/td>6%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Airport, Its Services, and the Shadow Cast by CLT and RDU<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GSO generally defines its catchment area to include 12 counties in north-central North Carolina. However, the airport faces significant challenges in attracting and retaining passengers due to the region\u2019s proximity to CLT and RDU. The major drivers of consumers\u2019 air service decisions are price and service levels (e.g., flight frequency or timing, aircraft size, and airline of preference). Consumers in the Triad take advantage of flight opportunities not only at GSO but at the other two major airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passenger traffic at GSO is primarily origin and destination (O&D) traffic. Since the drop in 2009, O&D traffic has generally recovered, rising from 1.4 million to 2.1 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GSO
Change in O&D Passengers at GSO<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The airport has experienced a slow return of airline capacity to 2008 levels in the last 11 years. In 2019, GSO nearly regained all the capacity that it had provided in 2008. Available capacity changed little between 2010 and 2017. Since then, capacity increased by 24 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GSO is the largest cargo airport in North Carolina based on landed weight. In 2019, total landed cargo and freight weight at GSO exceeded that at CLT by almost 20 percent and at RDU by nearly 70 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connectivity Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GSO
IATA Connectivity Index for GSO, indexed against 2008 (2008 = 100)
Source: InterVISTAS analysis of Innovata schedule data from Diio Mi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Changing economic conditions and airline mergers (Delta Air Lines\/Northwest Airlines, United Airlines\/Continental Airlines, and American Airlines\/US Airways) had a profound impact on consumer choice and connectivity at GSO, with reduced service suppressing connectivity below pre-Recession levels. However, the recovery in connectivity at GSO has been slightly faster than that of overall seat capacity and passenger traffic. Connectivity returned to 2008 levels by 2018 and continued to grow, driven by expanded capacity to major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Chicago O\u2019Hare International Airport (ORD), and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). As of 2019, GSO\u2019s connectivity was 14 percent higher than 2008 levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysis of Air Service and Economic Variables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the Triad, passenger traffic is relatively highly correlated with total regional employment. This means that as one variable rises, so does the other. As total regional employment increases, total O&D traffic at GSO also increases. However, correlation does not establish causation. It is not evident that changes in employment necessarily lead to or cause changes in O&D activity. The opposite could equally be true; changes in O&D traffic could bring about changes in regional employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The relationship between total regional employment and total O&D passenger traffic is positive, and the strength of the statistical correlation (R2 <\/sup>= 0.747) is relatively strong.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GSO
Relationship Between Total Regional Employment and Total O&D Passenger Traffic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Air Service Development and Regional Stakeholders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One key regional stakeholder is the Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP), whose primary objective is to promote prosperity, growth, and economic development in the region. The PTP collaborates with the airport to support regional economic development initiatives. The PTP\u2019s sectors of interest include biomedical and life sciences, technology, transportation and logistics, and automotive manufacturers, all of which rely on air service offerings in the region for their travel needs. Additionally, the region supports an economic development strategy centered on aviation and aerospace. GSO invested in the regional economy with the GSO aerospace \u201cMega site.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating the Airport\u2019s Economic Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

North Carolina conducted a state-wide study of the economic contribution of its airports. The report covered airport operations and estimated that GSO contributed<\/p>\n\n\n\n