Air Transport in Europe
Aviation provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network, which makes it essential for global business and tourism. It plays vital role in facilitating economic growth, particularly in developing countries.
Air transport is fundamental to European mobility, prosperity and political cohesion and essential to our daily life. Network operators link businesses, friends and families driving economic development and facilitating international trade. Each year, 750 million passengers use the services of European airlines which also carry 40% of merchandise value in and out of Europe. Air transport plays a crucial role in the integration of an enlarged Europe, supplying essential links between Europe’s regions and with the rest of the world.
A viable aviation sector is essential to the sustainable growth of the European economy. As a pioneer in single-market liberalisation, a global competitor and a key driver in innovation, it is key to the achievement of the Lisbon agenda. Aviation creates more than 5.1 million jobs in Europe, a figure that should double by 2020, and contributes more than EUR 380 billion to European GDP.
The 32 European established service and scheduled network carriers represented by the AEA collectively carry 394 million passengers and 5.7 million tons of cargo each year, operating 2,550 aircraft serving 632 destinations in 170 countries with 10,800 flights a day. They provide around 384,000 jobs directly, and generate a total turnover of EUR 92 billion.