Civil aeronautics

In 2023, world passenger traffic continued to return to normal, as total global traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres) increased by 36.9% compared to 2022 and reached 94.1% of pre-pandemic levels (2019).16 In Europe, passenger traffic increased by 12.5% compared to 2022. Civil aeronautics turnover reached €118.9bn in 2023, marking a 2.9% increase over the €115.6bn reported in 2022.

The continued growth was a consequence of ongoing post-pandemic air travel rebound, spurring demand for commercial aircraft and accelerating the replacement of older fleets with the latest, more fuel-efficient generation of aircraft. The sector accounted for 41% of the total industry turnover in 2023. Employment was at 387,000, up 6.6% year on year, translating into the creation of more than 24,000 new jobs. Compared to pre-pandemic (2019) levels, 2023 turnover was 5.1% higher, and 2023 employment was 13% higher.

The commercial aviation sector is navigating through a transformative era, marked by a resurgence in passenger air travel and a consequent spike in aircraft orders, the majority of which are not documented yet in manufacturers’ balances. This revival is stretching the operational capabilities of manufacturers, where escalation in production rates and workforce expansion is needed. And this at a time when the challenges that emerged in 2022 – supply-chain bottlenecks, shortages of critical raw material and electronic components, along with escalating energy costs and trade restrictions resulting from sanctions imposed on Russia – persisted in 2023.