Air Transport Association

Commercial aviation is the backbone of the modern American economy, driving $1.2 trillion in annual economic activity and 11 million well-paying American jobs. Aviation supports local economies and creates new markets at home and abroad. Communities from coast to coast depend heavily on access to the air transportation network for economic development. This section includes information on the economic importance of commercial aviation and the ever-increasing taxes imposed on airlines and their customers.

Along with traditional income and payroll taxes, airlines and their customers (passengers and shippers) pay many special taxes and fees to a variety of authorities, both at home and abroad, including taxes and fees for homeland security, environmental protection, disease control, infrastructure enhancement, airport and airway operations and maintenance and agency financing. This section includes information about U.S. aviation excise taxes and fees, the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and passenger facility charges.

ATA provides economic data and analysis for the entire U.S. airline industry. Wherever possible, ATA data reflects the entire U.S. airline industry, as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Where industrywide data is not available on a timely basis, ATA uses sample groups to approximate industry trends. Within this section, is information about passenger and cargo demand, airline prices, the costs of operation and delay, and annual earnings.

The annual ATA Economic Report is the single best source of information on the U.S. airline industry. This report highlights facts and figures drawn from all areas of the U.S. passenger and cargo airline industry, including operational and financial results for passenger and cargo operations. The ATA Economic Report is our official recording of industrywide performance. Also included within this section is the annual airline industry economic perspective, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) outlook and manufacturers’ economic perspectives.