Flightpath 2050 - European Commission - Europa

medium-sized enterprises which in 2009 supported
about 500000 sustainable and highly skilled jobs. In the
same year, aeronautics generated a turnover in excess
of €100 billion, of which approximately 60% is exported
outside the European Union.
On average, 12% of aeronautic revenues, representing
almost €7 billion per year for civil aeronautics alone,
are reinvested in Research and Development (R&D)
and support around 20% of aerospace jobs. Every Euro
invested in aeronautics R&D creates an equivalent
additional value in the economy every year thereafter.
Aeronautical technologies are catalysts for innovation
and spill-over into other economic and technological
sectors, thus contributing to the growth of the European
economy as a whole.
Aviation is a vital facilitator of European integration
and cohesion by providing essential transport links.
It is an important enabler of prosperity and wealth
creation for the Member States and their peripheral
regions by stimulating development, opening new
markets, boosting international trade and encouraging
companies to invest.
Europe is home to approximately 150 scheduled
passenger airlines and 450 airports, which in 2009
supported 751 million passengers 5 . World wide, traffic is
predicted to grow at a rate of close at 4-5% per year with
even higher growth rates 6 in the Middle East and Asia.
5