New york: The global aviation ecosystem has contributed $4.1 trillion so far to the world economy in 2026, with prospects to grow even further in the rest of the year, according to a new report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

According to Anadolu Agency, the global aviation ecosystem provides direct and indirect employment to some 86.5 million people. The sector is expected to serve around 5.2 billion passengers this year, and the air cargo volume is projected to reach 71.6 million metric tons. The report highlights that approximately $8 trillion worth of goods are transported by air annually, with the aviation sector making up about 3.9% of the global economy.

The report notes a 5.7% rise in passenger traffic in 2025 compared to previous years. It emphasizes that aviation remains a safe mode of transportation, as even a single accident among the approximately 40 million flights conducted worldwide each year could impact global safety statistics.

Despite the sector's continued growth, the report identifies key challenges, including geopolitical developments, supply chain disruptions, aircraft delivery delays, and the need to boost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. To achieve its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, the aviation sector will need around 500 million metric tons of SAF per year.

In terms of aviation's contribution to national income, the report ranks the world's largest markets. The US leads with aviation contributing $1.3 trillion to its GDP, followed by China with $253.6 billion, and Spain with $172.9 billion. Completing the top 10 are the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with aviation contributions ranging from $160.7 billion to $90.6 billion.