AMERICAN AIRPORT CITIES: LESSONS FOR WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT Justin Wastnage May 2018 The United States Studies Centre’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program is a multi-year research initiative, funded by the NSW Government, focused on understanding the United States as an innovation leader with a view to developing insight for the benefit of New South Wales and Australia. Research areas include business, technology and policy trends in the United States in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, including in the emerging area of agtech, venture capital, cybersecurity and defence industries. Research conclusions are derived independently and authors represent their own view, not those of the United States Studies Centre. United States Studies Centre Institute Building (H03) The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia Phone: +61 2 9351 7249 Email:
[email protected] Twitter: @ussc Website: ussc.edu.au Reports published by the United States Studies Centre are anonymously peer-reviewed by both internal and external experts. Cover photo: Dulles International Airport (Getty) Table of contents Executive summary and recommendations 01 Introduction 03 US airports as regional economic accelerators 06 Case study: Express freight logistics hub, Louisville, Kentucky 07 Airports as drivers of economic activity 09 Case study: The Dulles Technology Corridor 11 A history of US trade by air and the growth of logistics 13 Case study: Southwest Airlines’ use of secondary airports 15 Growth of non-aeronautical industries adjacent to US airports 17 The cultural shift in travel patterns around US airports 19 Case study: Chicago O’Hare employment hub 20 Opportunities for Australia 21 Conclusion 28 Endnotes 29 About the author 36 This report may be cited as: Justin Wastnage, “American airport cities: Lessons for Western Sydney Airport,” United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, May 2018.