Aviation in Bismarck resulted in 1,116 jobs and an economic impact of $178.7 million in 2004, according to a new study on the industry.

Although fewer people visited Bismarck by plane in 2004 compared to 1994, they spent almost three times as much money during their trips, according to the study put together by Flint Communications and Akerson Marketing Research Inc.

The study estimates that 71,983 people visited Bismarck by plane in 2004, compared to 75,394 in 1994. They spent an average of $235 in 1994, compared to $641 in 2004.

The study was presented to a group of government officials and airport personnel on Wednesday.

Bismarck Mayor John Warford said the study shows that money spent on airport infrastructure is worth it.

"The numbers that you hear today will show the cost-benefit ratio is very optimistic,"Warford said.

Bismarck completed building a new airport terminal in 2005 that cost around $15 million.

The economic impact wasn't just about commercial aviation.

The government and military accounted for a $33.7 million economic impact, and air freight accounted for $2.6 million. The authors of the study used direct and "induced" expenditures to figure the total economic impact. The induced expenditures were calculated by multiplying the direct expenditures by 1.5.

Gary Ness, director of the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, said the economic impact includes such things as hotel bookings, restaurant sales, travel agents and aviation manufacturing.

The report stated that the total economic impact on the state was $1.2 billion in 2004.

Information used in the survey came from questionnaires and statistics from various government agencies. The study looked at 2004 because that is the year the most up-to-date statistics were available.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)