Page 9 - AAA NOV / DEC 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

Aviation Critical
to The World’s Economy
s the debate rages about
aviation’s impact on the
A environment one crucial
aspect is forgotten by many and
that is aviation’s massive impact
on the world’s economy and the
distribution of wealth.
The economic importance of avia-
tion cannot be understated. Once
described as “overwhelmingly an
activity of the richest elements
of society” by the European
Federation for Transport and
Environment, it is anything but,
bringing economic opportunity and could not occur without systems
work to hundreds of millions.
But the true effect of the airline
system extends well beyond pure
Humanitarian aid is loaded onto an Air Senegal A330-900. Airbus
ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE
By Geoffrey Thomas
numbers and has become an inte- economic development and
gral part of the fabric of modern transport are inextricably linked. It
society as well as that of develop- stated: “Development increases
ing economies. transport demand, while avail-
ability of transport stimulates
The Intergovernmental Panel on even more development by
Climate Change (IPCC) 20071 allowing trade and economic
stated: “Mobility is an essential specialization. Industrialization
human need and human survival and growing specialization have
and societal interaction depend created the need for large ship-
on the ability to move people ments of goods and materials
and goods. Efficient mobility over substantial distances and
systems are essential facilitators the accelerating globalization
of economic development. Cities has greatly increased these
could not exist and global trade flows.”
to transport people and goods Giving color to that statement
cheaply and efficiently.” the Air Transport Action Group
(ATAG), an industry funded body
According to IPCC 2007, working with Oxford Economics
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