In terms of world scheduled passenger traffic, Europe accounts for:

• (a) 35% of passenger journeys;

• (b) 10% of passenger kilometres;

• (c) 40% of aircraft movements.

This traffic has shown sustained growth at about twice the rate of general economic expansion.

Rapid growth of trade and discretionary income explains a substantial proportion of this growth, but the efforts of the airline industry itself, which have resulted in improvements in speed and comfort and a persistent fall in real fares, are equally important.

Since the early 1960s the air travel market has broadened considerably. The scheduled industry no longer caters solely for business and wealthy leisure travellers. Increasingly, in a consumerist world, it caters for travellers with modest incomes. Consumerism is not the only external force to be reckoned with. The environmental lobby is strong and demands attention.