Total costs for air transport amounted to CHF 10.3 billion in 2023. Almost half (46%) was attributable to aircraft purchase and running costs, while the remaining costs were due to environmental and health impacts (43%) and infrastructure expenditure (11%). Climate-related damage caused by CO2 emissions was a major contributor to the environmental and health costs.
Passengers bore 57% of the total costs associated with aviation, as most of the costs associated with infrastructure and means of transport were passed on to them, while almost all of the environmental and health-related costs were borne by the general public.
The figures on the costs of air transport relate to scheduled and charter flights, mostly involving larger passenger aircraft, and also include the costs associated with goods transported in the belly of the aircraft (belly freight). By contrast, the costs of general aviation, which mainly involves small aircraft, are excluded, as no precise figures are available.
