Inbound tourism by air is now Australia's single largest export industry. It employs 8 percent of the work force. Australian companies have used airfreight to start innovative new businesses. An interesting example is the Seafood Company of Western Australia, which exports live crustaceans to its shop in London. They harvest the seafood early in the morning, and it is on sale in London by lunchtime the following day.
Air traffic is likely to become even more important during the next twenty years.
You know the figures better than I do. Boeing and Airbus both forecast that passenger traffic will grow by more than 150 percent. The size of the world aircraft fleet is expected to double. The growth in air traffic will require a substantial investment in airport and air traffic control infrastructure, as well as changes to the way that governments regulate international air services. IATA has consistently pointed out the need for new investment in airports and air traffic control systems.