Air the single market for air transport in the european union has greatly benefited passengers they now enjoy lower fares and a wider choice of carriers and services than in the past however liberalisation is not enough other measures are needed to protect passengers interests and ensure that they fully benefit from the single market. International aviation over the last 30 years the european union has created the worlds largest and most successful example of regional market integration and liberalisation in air transport. Air transport and the european union examines the emergence of the eu as a major actor in aviation it investigates how the eu was able to develop a common policy despite the existence of an established sectoral regime and against the opposition of most european states and their flag carriers keywords europe european union european union eu policy revolution transformation transport . A strategically important sector that makes a vital contribution to the eus overall economy and employment aviation supports close to 5 million jobs and contributes eur300 billion or 21 to european gdp despite the current economic crisis global air transport over the long term is expected to grow by around 5 annually until 2030