International trade in air transport: Recent developments and policy issues

Air transport, like other transport services, is associated with international trade in two distinct ways. First, air transport is traded as a service in its own right. Second, it is a key intermediate service for many other kinds of trade, in the domain of both goods and services (such as tourism). Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of an efficient, effective and reliable air transport infrastructure, especially in developing countries, to ensure the materialization of the gains from trade (WTO, 2004). These studies also highlight the important role of international civil aviation in contributing to the development process and its role in the leisure and commercial decisions of many people. This importance is expected to increase as a result of technological innovation, deregulation and enhanced market access for foreign companies, which are all making air transport more accessible to a wider set of customers in a broader range of countries.