05/12/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2026
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May Shines a Spotlight on Aviation in Mississippi
May is Aviation Month in Mississippi, highlighting the positive impact of airports and the aviation industry on our state.
In 2011, the State Legislature passed HC 124, establishing May as Mississippi’s annual Aviation Month. The designation highlights airports’ value to the state’s intermodal transportation system and to its economy.
“Aviation Month highlights the vital role airports play in the wellbeing of our state,” notes Mississippi Airports Association President Clay Williams. “Billions of dollars and many jobs are generated each year through airports and the industries related to them. Airports are key partners in recruiting industry to Mississippi and enhancing its global market position, and aviation is an integral facet of many of our state’s major industries.”
Mississippi is home to 80 airports – 74 public and 6 private. Seven offer commercial service. In the most recent economic impact study for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, an economic impact of more than $2.5 billion was revealed, and 20,025 jobs were traced to the state’s aviation sector.
In addition to channeling business travel, tourism and commercial cargo, airports also benefit major state industrial sectors such as agriculture, aerospace manufacturing and oil and gas. They also enhance quality of life through support of emergency services like law enforcement and air ambulance and by supporting military operations and aviation-related education.
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