Polk County Has the Assets to Support a Growing Aviation/Aerospace Industry

With four airports that serve different clientele growing in different ways, Polk County is in an envious position. It is located in the center of a growing state with a soaring aviation sector. Not only that, but Polk has creative leadership, a qualified talent pipeline and developable land. 

Aviation is a constantly evolving industry, and Polk County boasts as a practical and advantageous location for businesses in this sector. Florida’s airports have an economic impact of $336 billion, according to the 2022 Florida Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study done by FDOT. Of that, Polk County’s airports account for nearly $2 billion, shattering the $400 million impact just 10 years ago.

Breaking it down:  

• Lakeland Linder International Airport had an economic impact of $1.4 billion, supporting 8,332 jobs and a $410 million in payroll.  
• Bartow Executive Airport had an economic impact of $345 million, supporting 1,908 jobs and $109 million in payroll.  
• Winter Haven Regional Airport had an economic impact of $88.1 million, supporting 600 jobs and $27 million in payroll.  
• Lake Wales Municipal Airport had an economic impact of $39.7 million, supporting 258 jobs and $15.3 million in payroll. 

The study noted how Lakeland Linder’s location on Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando has aided its growth. “LAL’s prime location has been extremely lucrative to tenant Amazon Air, an air cargo operator that has established a regional base at LAL for cargo sorting.” 

Home to 60+ Businesses

Amazon has continued to grow and expand, just one sign of the health of Polk County’s largest airport. It also just attracted Avelo Airlines to provide commercial passenger air service. Avelo started with one route and has already announced it’s adding seven more along the East Coast and Puerto Rico. 

“The expansion of this commercial air availability and affordable pricing does more than simply provide easier accessibility,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. “It increases the overall market share and total dollars spent for commercial aviation across the three-airport corridor of Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando to this continually growing economic sector.”  

Lakeland Linder is also home to the NOAA Hurricane Hunters, Draken International (a Department of Defense contractor) and more than 65 other businesses and organizations. It has more than 150,000 aircraft operations annually, making it among the top 100 busiest airports in the nation.   

Growth Plans

Airport Director Kris Hallstrand said the next big initiative will be attracting a maintenance, repair and overhaul operator to the airport. “We’re working on that.”  

Hallstrand also wants to increase the airport’s $1.4 billion economic impact to $2.5 billion in five years.  

Mayor Mutz thinks this goal is possible. “The increased accessibility for growing Central Florida businesses and their employees will dramatically add to this total. Within a year, we expect to see even more than the eight current cities and two Lakeland-based Avelo jets at LAL.”  

Hallstrand said Avelo will help boost the airport’s economic impact by: 

• Adding jobs. “Once we get to the running stage with Avelo, they will have 150 high-skill, high-wage jobs. We already have 3,000 jobs for our community; this just adds another layer.” 
• Helping small shops, hotels, downtown and events by increasing exposure to our community.  
• Increasing business travel, especially to Atlanta.  
• Bringing in more tourism dollars.  

The area’s other airports have different areas of focus: 

• Winter Haven airport, directed by Troy Heidel, takes advantage of the five lakes that surround it by catering to seaplane activity. 

• Bartow, led by Director John Helms, updated its strategic plan in 2023 with plans to continue to grow its business park (the only industrial zone in central Polk County) and multimodal services (access to several rail spurs and trucking facilities) while supporting its flight school and police and medical transport operations.  
• Lake Wales, led by Amanda Lomneck, supports powered paragliding training and skydiving activities, including hosting national and collegiate championships. 

Strong ties in the aviation and aerospace sector bode well for Polk County as it continues to market itself at The Place to do Business in Florida.