Fuelling Our Economy and Lifestyle

Contribution to the Canadian Economy

Around the world, air transport plays a role as a critical economic and social driver. By connecting people and markets, the aviation industry not only delivers direct benefits to the economy, but it also initiates a ripple effect by facilitating the growth of many other important sectors.

This role is especially important in Canada, due to the size of our country and our distance from many important international markets. Our airlines serve as a major source of earnings, tax revenue, jobs and investment opportunities all across Canada, and are vital to the success of many other Canadian industries.

In 2008, the passenger air transportation sector as a whole provided Canadians with 56, 600 full time jobs. This does not include employment in the many businesses that rely on serving airline passengers, such as hotels, travel agents, airport vendors and taxis.

Bringing Canadians Together

Every day, Canadians travel by air between communities spread out across our vast country, and to and from distant international destinations. At the same time, international travellers rely on airlines to visit Canada and travel around the country.

• NACC member air carriers alone carry 60 million passengers each year between hundreds of locations in Canada and five continents worldwide.
• In 2008, Canadian residents and visitors spent over $15 billion on domestic passenger air travel.
• In 2008, international passengers spent $2.6 billion on Canadian airfares.