In 2012, U.S. airlines directly reduced the U.S. trade deficit by more than $5 billion, according to John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist for Airlines for America.
“Non-U.S. residents purchased nearly $40 billion worth of air travel from U.S. airlines, an all-time high. This speaks directly to the industry’s increasing global competitiveness and the diverse economic benefits that accrue to the nation from the U.S. airlines’ profitable growth,” Heimlich said.
A4A noted that according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. citizens imported $34.4 billion worth of air travel, up from $31.1 billion in 2011, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.1 billion.
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