New study positions airports and air connectivity as unique drivers of competitiveness and prosperity
In conjunction with its Airport Economics Symposium high-level event that took place in Brussels on the 17 October, ACI EUROPE launched a brand new study into the socioeconomic impact of airports and air connectivity by SEO Amsterdam Economics.
The study revealed that Europe’s airports generate €851 billion in GDP annually, which represents 5% of the whole European economy. The unique connection between airports, air connectivity and prosperity was further solidified by the correlation that every 10% increase in direct connectivity automatically triggers a 0.5% increase in GDP per capita and 1.6% increase in jobs.
These findings position airports at the heart of the competitiveness and prosperity drive for Europe, which opens the list of priorities for the new European Commission, due to take seat imminently.
Running a red thread through the new data on the socio-economic impact of airports and the recent reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, ACI EUROPE launched a call on the new Commission to include aviation in the forthcoming Clean Industrial Deal. This important step would ensure airports and air connectivity can continue playing a key part in boosting European economy and generating high quality jobs, at the same time enabling it to fully decarbonise.
Going beyond economic impact, SEO Amsterdam Economics findings for the first time included a quantitative analysis of positive societal outcomes linked with airports and air connectivity. It transpired that boosts in direct air connectivity at the same time drive important reductions in poverty rates, increases in access to quality education, greater investment in R&D and innovation, and also boosting gender equality and life satisfaction.
Ensuring greater accessibility of the study findings, ACI EUROPE encapsulated the key data in a compact synopsis publication: The Benefits of Airports and Air Connectivity available for download.
Find out more in our Press Release: New study shows airports & air connectivity power 5% of European GDP — also supporting quality education, gender equality, R&D and well being
