Aircraft manufacturers Decreased customer demand resulting from congestion Loss of production as fewer aircraft are required in a severely constrained environment. Gain as more aircraft are needed to offset moderate congestion. Air traffic delays and constraints arising from congestion are a symptom of governments not having 'got it right' for infrastructure planning. Future economic growth will be jeopardised unless governments and other authorities invest substantially more in the infrastructure necessary to support the air transport industry. The extra fuel required can mean an aircraft burns between 1.5 and 2.5 additional tonnes of fuel on each trip.
Congestion manifests itself in higher costs for the air transport industry.
These estimates do not take into account the related losses to commerce and industry, via increased distribution costs, and the need to maintain higher prices to pay for the inefficiencies of the system. Continued improvements to aviation infrastructure are required just to keep pace with the growth in air traffic world-wide and significant levels of investment will be needed if the current cost of congestion to the global economy is to be reduced. The outmoded air traffic control system is costing airlines and consumers billions of dollars each year in delays, and it badly needs to be modernised. Some specific examples help to illustrate the economic benefits of air transport, and are also useful in highlighting the costs associated with congestion and underinvestment in aviation infrastructure. Europe - Two Examples 1.