An Arizona State University study shows three Phoenix airports are helping boost the Valley’s economy. The Economic Impact of the Phoenix Airport System report shows the total is in the billions of dollars.

The control tower at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (Photo by Al Macias - KJZZ)

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: In 2011 the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport system created a $28.7 billion economic impact on the Phoenix Metro area. The study created by ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business includes data from Sky Harbor, Deer Valley and Goodyear airports. It also includes information from the airport’s business center. The study measured employment, payroll, and revenues and sales, plus airports, air travelers and tourism supported nearly 250,000 direct and indirect jobs. Deborah Ostreicher is with the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

DEBORAH OSTREICHER: We see in this is a continued bounce back and the we at the airport need to continue preparing for the future and one of the ways we’re doing that is with the Phoenix Sky Train which we plan to open the first quarter of this year.

ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: 2007 was the last time an economic impact study was conducted on the Phoenix airport system. The impact then was totaled at $33 billion dollars. Compared to today, that’s a drop of about $4 billion.