Aviation sector is flying high

Britain’s aviation sector is now worth £52 billion to the economy, supporting about 960,000 jobs and generating £8.7bn in taxation for Treasury coffers, ­according to new research.

The study, which is due to be published today at the annual conference of the Airport Operators Association, the trade body for UK airports, shows that all three elements of the sector’s contribution to the economy have grown steadily in recent years.

The report brings together data for airlines, airports and ground-based infrastructure and aerospace manufacturing.

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