Aviation’s Future Is as Bright as Its Past

Abstract

The need to travel is one of mankind’s most enduring traits, but it has only been in the last 100 years that flight has enabled him to traverse great distances in very little time. Add to this the fact that aviation is increasingly affordable and you have all the ingredients for an industry that connects economies, countries, cities and more importantly people. Its demand is evident in the industries statistics, with air traffic historically doubling every 15 years. With growing GDP, increasing wealth, greater liberalization, and more capable eco-efficient aircraft, air traffic is forecast to double again in the next 15 years, with the world’s aircraft fleet also forecast to double over the next 20 years. Aviation will continue to contribute to nations’ economies delivering both GDP and jobs, directly and indirectly, through tourism for example, where half of all tourists use aviation to get to their holiday destinations. In the future, new technologies will simplify and enhance the passenger experience, and will offer manufacturers opportunities to improve their products as well as their design and manufacturing capabilities.