Don’t take your local airport for granted. Whether it’s a major airline and air cargo hub, a smaller facility with limited service or something in between, it’s part of a global economic engine supporting millions of jobs.
Aviation has a total global economic impact of $4.1 trillion — with a “t” — according to a December 2024 report from Geneva, Switzerland–based Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), a non-profit association of manufacturers and suppliers, airline associations, airports, sustainable aviation fuel companies and chambers of commerce, among others.
The report, “Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders 2024,” marks the 80th anniversary of the Chicago Convention, which established the International Civil Aviation Organization and set rules pertaining to security, safety, air space and other factors pertinent to global aviation.
“This report pays tribute to the spirit of the Chicago Convention, which has enabled connectivity across the world, supporting livelihoods and driving global growth,” says ATAG Executive Director Haldane Dodd. “Eighty years later, aviation continues to link people and cultures while fostering international cooperation.”
Infographics courtesy of ATAG
Key findings revealed in an ATAG summary of the report include:
- Globally, aviation directly supports 11.6 million jobs and 20.4 million jobs indirectly. A further 17.2 million jobs are induced by the spending of aviation employees in the wider economy and 37.3 million jobs are supported by aviation through tourism.
- If aviation were a country, it would rank 20th in size by GDP.
- A total of 8.17 trillion revenue passenger kilometers (RPK, or 5 trillion miles) were scheduled in 2023.
- Around the world, 4,072 commercial airports are served by 1,138 airlines flying more than 29,000 aircraft on 67,300 global routes overseen by 162 air traffic management providers.
- Each day in 2023, 12 million passengers boarded a total of 96,577 scheduled flights.
- With nearly 61.4 million tons of cargo moved by air in 2023 — equivalent to $8 trillion or 33% of world trade by value — aviation remains essential for keeping supply chains running.
- Global airports invested approximately $49.2 billion in construction projects in 2022 alone, creating jobs, modernizing facilities and enhancing infrastructure.
- Looking ahead, forecasts show that by 2043, the sector could support 135.4 million jobs and contribute $8.5 trillion to the global economy.
Infographics courtesy of ATAG
The report also outlines the activity underway across the aviation sector as it works toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, notes ATAG. The whole industry is committed to scaling up the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). In 2023, the aviation industry used 500,000 metric tons of SAF, double the amount used in 2022. When compared with conventional fuels, today’s SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% over their lifecycle.
Flight of Fancy?
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) introduced ambitious plans on January 16 to build a multi-purpose development at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) called SKYTOPIA. The US$13 billion project would leverage the land and marine resources adjacent to the airport and feature non-air-service amenities aimed at making SKYTOPIA a destination in its own right.
Proposed components include an art hub and art storage facility, a marina with more than 500 berths, a water recreation area, a fresh market, an indoor performance venue with 20,000 seats, an indoor and outdoor sports complex and a smart transportation system.
“We envisage that HKIA will not be just a place for passengers to board their flights or a portal for entering Hong Kong,” said AAHK Chairman Fred Lam at the event. “Our vision is to develop SKYTOPIA into a landmark of its own and a world-leading destination, attracting visitors from within Hong Kong and the prosperous Greater Bay Area, as well as major markets in Asia and the rest of the world. AAHK’s role is to build the key infrastructure and create a platform for experts and investors to deliver services and products through their specially designed facilities.”
