1.1m Jobs in Brazil Depend on Air Transport

The International Air Transport Association has announced new data showing that aviation and aviation-induced tourism support 1.1 billion jobs and contribute $32.9 billion to Brazil’s GDP, an amount equivalent to 1.4% of the country’s GDP.

These findings are among the highlights of “The Importance of Air Transport in Brazil” study conducted by Oxford Economics on behalf of IATA.

According to the study, Brazil’s Infrastructure Quality Score is 4 out of 7, a handicap for the efficient operation of the region’s air industry and one that detracts from the passenger experience, Travel Daily News reported.

Entry visa requirements also weigh on Brazil’s ability to attract visitors, the country’s Visa Openness Score is just 2 out of 10.

Brazil’s unorthodox fuel policies that artificially increase industry operating costs by $560 million annually while restrictive rules covering baggage and airline tickets also weigh on the industry’s cost competitiveness.

“With aircraft taking off or landing some two million times a year in Brazil, the air transport industry’s value speaks for itself. But removing the artificial barriers that are holding back the industry in Brazil is paramount,” said Peter Cerda, IATA’s regional vice president for the Americas.

“Air transport contributes 3% of GDP in Chile, 3% in Ecuador and 2.1% in Colombia; at just 1.4% of GDP in Brazil, there is considerable room for improvement.”