iThe Airline industry is a vital component of global transportation and economic connectivity, facilitating international trade, tourism, and business travel. The sector directly supports millions of jobs worldwide and enables countless other industries to function efficiently through rapid mobility of people and cargo. Despite challenges from the pandemic, the sector has shown remarkable resilience and continues to innovate in areas like fuel efficiency and sustainable aviation.

As of 2024, the global airline industry generated approximately $1.4 trillion in revenue, with projections indicating continued growth. This sector supports 90 million jobs worldwide, contributing $4.1 trillion to the global GDP, which accounts for about 3.9% of the world’s total GDP when considering its direct, indirect, and induced impacts, including tourism facilitation.

The United States leads the market with major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and United. The Middle East has emerged as a powerful hub with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways dominating long-haul routes. In Asia, China’s domestic market has become the world’s largest, with China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern as key players. European aviation is led by Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM, and IAG (British Airways/Iberia).