Around the world
Air transport connects the world. From Athens to Zanzibar, we fly passengers there and provide jobs there. This section looks at how the aviation sector impacts economies, employment and operations in various regions and groups of countries worldwide.
Africa
In Africa, air transport supports 7.7 million jobs, around 80% of which are in aviation-enabled tourism. Without the connectivity flight provides, many African countries that rely on a steady inflow of tourists would not be able to enjoy their present levels of economic growth.
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific has the highest levels of passenger traffic, transporting over a third of all passengers worldwide.
Europe
Europe accounts for a quarter of global passenger traffic and is the second largest market after Asia-Pacific.
Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the aviation industry supports 2.7% of all employment and 3.5% of all economic activity.
Middle East
Up and coming - air traffic in the Middle East is estimated to grow 4.1% in the next 20 years, accounting for the largest growth rate worldwide.
North America
In North America, air transport creates 2.7 million jobs in the aviation industry itself, and supports 8.8 million jobs.
Small island states
The national economies of small island states often depend heavily on tourism dollars enabled by the air transport industry.
Developing countries
In developing countries around the world, jobs and economic activity supported by aviation-enabled tourism are a very important pillar of the local economies.
OECD countries
Every person directly employed in the aviation sector and in tourism made possible by aviation supported another 5.9 million jobs elsewhere in OECD countries.
EU 28
In the European Union (EU28), there are 5,087 aircraft in service, operated by 234 airlines, transporting 903 million passengers. Air transport in the EU28 supports 9.8 million jobs and $794 (€672) billion in economic activity.
APEC
The air transport industry in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) employs 6.7 million people directly.