Airports are gateways to the world, vital for business activity and leisure travel. The economic benefits of aviation are indisputable. In its 2006 report, Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF), one of the country's leading independent economic analysis groups, stated:

• The aviation industry contributed £11.4 billion to the GDP in 2004 – that's 1.1% of the overall UK economy
• It directly employed 186,000 people in 2004 and up to 520,000 indirectly
• Conservatively, the industry contributed £3.6 billion to the Exchequer in 2004/05.

Tourism is clearly important for the UK, supporting some two million jobs. In 2006, 4.4 billion passengers travelled by air.

• Nearly three-quarters of international visitors to the UK arrive by air. Spending by these visitors is equivalent to 1.1% of GDP.
• Tourism makes a large and growing contribution to the economy – almost 4% of GDP.
• Air services allow UK tourists to visit a wider range of overseas holidays than would otherwise be possible.

Aviation and the benefits and services it provides are vital for UK business and trade.

• Aviation plays a key role in UK trade. Some 55% of the UK's export of manufactured goods to countries outside the European Union is by air.
• Some 90% of companies in London or close to Heathrow say the airport is either vital or very important to their organisation.
• Almost one company in ten reports that the absence of good air transport links has affected its decision to invest in the UK.

Full OEF report

The Aviation White Paper

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