Assessment of the strategic and economic importance of UK-based airlines

August 7th, 2023

Airlines UK has published a new report on the contribution of UK-based airlines to the UK economy.  The study by Steer, commissioned by Airlines UK, shows the vital importance to the UK of its airlines with bases and employees here, for both the connectivity and the jobs they create.

The contribution of UK-based airlines to the UK economy:

• Airlines UK members have over 900 UK-based aircraft located and maintained in facilities across the country, employing local people and supply chains
• Each UK-based aircraft directly supports 400 jobs and £27m UK GVA compared to 100 jobs and £7m GVA where overseas aircraft fly UK routes. Every two additional departing flights added by a based aircraft creates another job in the wider UK economy
• UK airlines transport around 20 million overseas visitors per year to the UK who spend £14 billon – taking total UK jobs supported by UK airlines to over 1 million
• UK-based aircraft providing the significant majority of the UK’s unique international connectivity (73%) as well as serve 85% of international routes and all domestic routes and offer 67% of all international seats. UK-based airlines and aircraft means better UK connectivity – particularly on thinner direct routes from regions outside of London
• Airlines with a UK operating certificate carry nearly 800 thousand tonnes of air cargo annually – contributing to the 40% of the UK’s non-EU trade by value carried onboard aircraft

You can read the report in full here: Value UK Based Airlines Report July 23