Air transport is an innovative industry that drives economic and social progress

Aviation provides the only worldwide transportation network, which makes it essential for global business and tourism. It plays a vital role in facilitating economic growth, particularly in developing countries.
Aviation transports 2 billion passengers annually and 40% of interregional exports of goods (by value).
40% of international tourists now travel by air.
The air transport industry generates a total of 29 million jobs globally (through direct, indirect, induced and catalytic impacts).
Aviation's global economic impact (direct, indirect, induced and catalytic) is estimated at US$ 2,960 billion, equivalent to 8% of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The world's 900 airlines have a total fleet of nearly 22,000 aircraft. They serve some 1,670 airports through a route network of several million kilometres managed by around 160 air navigation service providers.
25% of all companies' sales are dependent on air transport. 70% of businessses report that serving a bigger market is a key benefit of using air services.

Air transport is a major employer

The air transport industry generates a total of 29 million jobs globally.

5.0 million direct jobs

The airline and airport industry directly employ 4.3 million people globally.
The civil aerospace sector (manufacturer of aircraft systems, frames and engines, etc.) employs 730,000 people.

5.8 million indirect jobs through purchases of goods and services from companies in its supply chain.

2.7 million induced jobs through spending by industry employees.

15.5 million direct and indirect jobs through air transport's catalytic impact on tourism. Some 6.7 million direct tourism jobs are supported by the spending of international visitors arriving by air.

As a capital-intensive business, productivity per worker in the air transport industry is very high, at three and a half times the average for other sectors.

Air transport is a highly efficient user of resources and infrastructure

Aviation boasts high occupancy rates of above 70% - which are more than double those of road and rail transportation.
Air transport entirely covers its infrastructure costs in the developed world. Unlike road and rail, it is a net contributor to national treasuries through taxation.
Modern aircraft achieve fuel efficiencies of 3.5 litres per 100 passenger-km or 67 passenger-miles per US gallon. The next generation aircraft (A380 & B787) are targeting an efficiency of less than 3 litres per 100 passenger-miles per US gallon, which exceeds the efficiency of any modern compact car on the market.

Air transport provides significant social benefits

Air transport improves quality of life by broadening people's leisure and cultural experiences. It provides a wide choice of holiday destinations around the world and an affordable means to visit distant friends and relatives.
Air transport helps to improve living standards and alleviate poverty, for instance, through tourism.
Air transport may provide the only transportation means in remote areas, thus promoting social inclusion.
Air transport contributes to sustainable development. By facilitating tourism and trade, it generates economic growth, provides jobs, increases revenues from taxes, and fosters the conservation of protected areas.
The air transport network facilitates the delivery of emergency and humanitarian aid relief anywhere on earth, and ensures the swift delivery of medical supplies and organs for transplantation.
Commercial aviation generates a whole host of less tangible "spin-off" benefits. These include reducing the cost of trade and movement, attracting new businesses to locations with good air service links to the rest of the world, and supporting the development of new technology and distribution processes based on the rapid movement of people and goods.

Air transport is responsibly reducing its environmental impact

Like any other economic activity, air transport has an effect on the environment. This has created concern that the industry's environmental impact is increasing in proportion to its growth. This is not true. Efficiency is key to minimising environmental impact. By continually improving its fuel consumption, reducing waste and introducing new, more sustainable technologies, air transport has been able to reduce or contain its environmental impact.

Aircraft entering today's fleets are 20 decibels (dB) quieter than comparable aircraft 40 years ago.
A further 50% reduction in noise during take-off and landing (minus 10dB) is expected by 2020.
Aircraft entering today's fleets are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 40 years ago. Carbon monoxide emissions have been simultaneously reduced by 50%, while unburned hydrocarbon and smoke have been cut by 90%.
Research programmes aim to achieve a further 50% fuel and CO2 saving and an 80% reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 2020.
Enhancements in air traffic management have the potential to reduce fuel burn by 6-12%, while operational improvements can bring an additional 2-6% fuel saving.
Per passenger kilometre, air transport uses less than 1% of the land required for transport in the European Union.
Air transport covers the shortest distance between two points, generally 30% below ground transportation means.

Air transport is committed to safety

Air travel is safer than other modes of transport per passenger-kilometre. In 2005, there was only one accident per 1.3 million flights.
The safety of air transport has constantly improved over time and safety will remain the most important driving factor for future aircraft development.

Air transport is a significant tax payer

The air transport industry finances its infrastructrue -- airport and air navigation services -- through user charges and also pays taxes to national and local treasuries. It is, therefore, totally misleading to suggest that aviation enjoys taxation priviledges versus other transport modes.

Airlines pay over USD 40 billion annually to use the infrastructure through specific landing, passenger and air traffic control fees. Moreover, the air transport industry pays substantial taxes to local, provincial and national authorities via passenger duties, VAT, custom or immigration levies.

In the US, the average tax represents 26% of an air ticket, a level of taxation similar to alcohol and tobacco.

In Europe, every rail journey is subsidised between USD 3 and USD 9, while every air journey provides a net contribution between USD 6 and USD 11 to government revenues or avoided expenditures.