Globally, aviation supports 65.5 million jobs and has an economic impact of US$2.7 trillion representing 3.6% of global GDP.
See what aviation is doing for your region:
Fast facts - Africa
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 6.2 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $55.8 billion |
| $35.9 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 98 million |
| 2% | |
| Annual air freight | 968,000 tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
Key challenges
Better connectivity
Implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision will Transform Intra-African Air Connectivity. A report by independent economic consultants InterVISTAS outlines the benefits that would accrue if 12 African nations were to implement the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision.
The Yamoussoukro Decision committed 44 signatory countries to deregulating air services and to opening regional air markets to transnational competition. The implementation of this agreement, however, has been slow, and the benefits have not been realized.
Intra-African liberalization
The additional services generated by intra- African liberalization between just 12 key markets will provide an extra 155,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual GDP. A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on establishing air routes.
Aviation already supports over 6 million jobs and more than $50 billion in GDP across Africa. The InterVISTAS research demonstrates that liberalization will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development.
Read more on the benefits of the
Yamoussoukro Decision (pdf) and the
Single African Air Transport Market (pdf).
The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are listed in the table below.
| Nation | Additional Employment | Additional gdp (usd millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 11,100 | 123.6 |
| Angola | 15,300 | 137.1 |
| Egypt | 11,300 | 114.2 |
| Ethiopia | 14,800 | 59.8 |
| Ghana | 9,500 | 46.8 |
| Kenya | 15,900 | 76.9 |
| Namibia | 10,600 | 94.2 |
| Nigeria | 17,400 | 128.2 |
| Senegal | 8,000 | 40.5 |
| South Africa | 14,500 | 283.9 |
| Tunisia | 8,100 | 113.7 |
| Uganda | 18,600 | 77.6 |
The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. Governments should support the growth of the industry by fully liberalizing African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision.
- Download Full Report (pdf)
- Press Release: IATA Welcomes Single African Air Transport Market, Says Effective Implementation is Key
- Press Release: New Report Confirms Significant Benefits of Liberalized African Air Markets
- Yamoussoukro Decision (pdf)
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 30.2 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $684 billion |
| $287.8 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 1.5 billion |
| 37% | |
| Annual air freight | 22.2 million tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
Key challenges
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to achieve unprecedented long term growth in aviation. Over half of new passengers expected globally over the next 20 years will come from this region. Given that aviation is a catalyst for economic growth, this spells good news for the continent. However, significant investment in infrastructure and technology, in tandem with implementation of smart regulations from State governments, will be required to fully reap the benefits of this aviation growth.
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 12.2 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $823 billion |
| $293.6 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 1 billion |
| 26% | |
| Annual air freight | 10.1 million tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
Key challenges
Airspace modernization in Europe will create massive benefits for Europe’s citizens. But progress towards a Single European Sky has been slow. To make progress without delay, we urgently need European nations, together with air navigation service providers and airlines, to develop National Airspace Strategies. See our video and read some of the information below for more details.
A report from SEO Amsterdam Economics Research has calculated that the European economy will be boosted by EUR245 billion in 2035 if European airspace is modernized. The report calculates the impact if the inefficiencies in European air traffic management (ATM), which include unnecessary route extensions of up to 50km and delays of around 10 minutes per flight, were eliminated. Europe has had a long-standing program, the Single European Sky (SES), aimed at eliminating these inefficiencies. Its targets include a reduction in environmental impact of 10%, a threefold increase in capacity, and a reduction of costs of 50%.
This project, however, is much delayed and is suffering from a lack of political leadership at national level. IATA has commissioned the SEO report to create a new momentum for delivering the SES goals. The aim is to involve stakeholder groups in key European markets who would particularly stand to benefit from the economic boost generated by a modernized ATM.
These groups include the hospitality and tourism sectors, the knowledge economy, trades unions, cultural and educational representatives as well as manufacturing and service exporters. It is hoped that together, the case can be made to re-invigorate the process of European ATM reform and modernization. The report & infographic are below.
- Read full SEO Economics Research study Economic benefits of European airspace modernization (pdf)
- Benefits of European airspace modernization (pdf) - infographic (Airlines International)
- Benefits of European airspace modernization (pdf) - infographic
- European Airspace Modernization, Routes to Prosperity (pdf) - summary
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.
Fast facts - LATAM & Caribbean
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 7.2 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $156 billion |
| $64.7 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 316 million |
| 8% | |
| Annual air freight | 2.1 million tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
The Caribbean is heavily reliant on tourism for its economic health. The vast majority of tourists arriving in the region travel by air. Supporting air connectivity is therefore a vote for a prosperous future.
But this is not a textbook exercise. The impact of a new air services is grounded in reality. It gives small businesses—bars, restaurants, shops, and family-run hotels—the tools to thrive. It gives individuals a job and the means to pay their bills.
Caribbean States should not be limiting the potential of air connectivity. Rather, they should be providing a regulatory environment, nationally and regionally, that allows airlines to unlock the true potential of the region, and of the people living in it.
The study below provides clear guidelines on how to achieve such a robust platform for growth. It explains why this is desirable, backed up by figures and analysis.
Air connectivity is an economic enabler. It can enrich the future for a government or for citizens.
Read the full study: A blueprint for maximising the social and economic value of aviation in the Caribbean (pdf)
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.
Fast facts - Middle East
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 2.4 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $130 billion |
| $66 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 172 million |
| 4% | |
| Annual air freight | 7.2 million tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
Key challenges
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.
Fast facts - North America
| 2017 Figures | |
|---|---|
| Jobs supported by aviation | 7.3 million jobs |
| Total GDP supported by aviation | $844 billion |
| $149.7 billion | |
| Annual passengers | 939 million |
| 23% | |
| Annual air freight | 19.2 million tonnes |
Sources: IATA/ATAG
Key challenges
Read more about some of the key issues in the region.