IATA releases study on economic benefits of aviation to Azerbaijan
IATA director general and CEO Tony Tyler released (30-Apr-2013) a study on the economic benefits aviation brings to Azerbaijan which was commissioned by IATA. Aviation supports AZN395 million (EUR383.7 million) of business, equating to 0.8% of Azerbaijan's economic activity which provides employment to nearly 28,000 people in Azerbaijan. When these statistics are added to the impact of aviation related tourism, it supports AZN878 million (EUR852.9 million) (or 1.8% of Azerbaijan's GDP) and supports 66,100 jobs. Air traffic is expected to grow by at least 10% p/a in the country. The study came as IATA signed a MoU with the Azerbaijani Government to establish a partnership for the successful development of aviation in the country. IATA called for Azerbaijan to "adopt an agenda for enhanced safety and regulation to enable aviation to expand its role as a catalyst for economic growth and development in the country". IATA also called for Azerbaijan to ratify the Montreal Convention 1999 which sets common standards on liability. [more - original PR - IATA] [more - original PR - IATA Speech]