If Aviation Were a Country ...
Globally, the aviation industry supports $2.7 trillion of the world’s gross domestic product and is responsible for 65.5 million jobs. If the aviation industry were a country, it would be the 20th largest economy in the world. No wonder there’s great concern as the global aviation sector has been one of the hardest-hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major airlines such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific have grounded 96 percent of their fleets and more than 40 other carriers have grounded their entire fleets. And this is not just affecting the movement of people. While the aviation sector moves just 0.5 percent of global goods, it moves 34.6 percent of the value of goods and services. The high value and high frequency of services and goods moved via air transportation is a clear indicator of the vital role aviation plays in the world economy.