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Aviation supports trade, employment and economic growth. In 2020, airlines and their customers are forecast to generate $136 billion in tax revenues.  That’s the equivalent of 45% of the industry’s GVA (Gross Value Added, which is the firm-level equivalent to GDP), paid to governments.

Unwarranted or excessive taxation on international air transport has a negative impact on economic and social development.

IATA, in conjunction with its industry partners, is committed to ensuring that airlines are subject to fair and efficient taxation measures with respect to their operations, regardless of location. ​

We work with the airline industry to ensure that government authorities worldwide honor and adhere to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations taxation principles. Our activities include: 

  • Ensuring that new and existing taxation measures (be they direct or indirect) are fairly applied and adequately consider the economic and social ramifications
  • Lobbying against measures that result in double taxation
  • Advocating against taxation measures that unjustly target the industry, where the resulting tax revenues are not reinvested in air transport related services and infrastructure

Taxation positions

Various forms of taxation impact the success and growth of the aviation industry. The demand for air travel is highly sensitive to changes in prices. Inefficient and burdensome tax measures that increase the cost of air travel will have a negative effect on demand. This, in turn, will hamper economic growth.

Learn more about IATA’s positions on various forms of taxation impacting the industry:

And more generally: Aviation taxes and charges