100 Years Air Traffic Control

Our Industry

The Aviation Industry

Aviation plays a crucial role in today’s society – it boosts economic activity, enhances connectivity and enables access to markets and tourism.

Aviation supports 65.5 million jobs globally and $2.7 trillion in economic activity
Aviation provides a $707.4 billion direct contribution to world GDP
In 2036 aviation is forecast to contribute $1.5 trillion to the world GDP

What is ATM?

Air traffic management (ATM) encompasses the people and systems
that help aircraft, drones and space-bound vehicles
travel safely and efficiently through our skies.

Air traffic controllers help to manage aircraft arrivals and departures at airports,
while a network of radar, satellites and technologies track flights and safely separate flight paths,
and ensure the most efficient trajectories and routes are used.

There are also engineers and support teams that maintain smooth operations,
safety experts that ensure the skies are secure, and analysts that continually assess capacity,
environmental performance and routes.

The air traffic management industry, therefore, provides vital infrastructure and services for the aviation industry,
the traveling public and supply chains, and new and emerging forms of airborne mobility.

The ATM industry handled 38 million air traffic movements in 2018
The ATM industry ensured safe and efficient air transport for 4.3 billion passengers worldwide in 2018
The ATM industry provides 220,000 jobs across 2018

*Courtesy CANSO