Historical development of civil aviation sector and effects of economic crises on aviation sector

The civil aviation sector is rapidly growing with the rapid development of technology. Growth of trade between countries and such as the fact that air tarnsportation is safe and fast have increased the interest in air transportation. The purpose of this study is to examine the recent developments in the civil aviation sector in the world and in Turkey, to anticipate the current situation, the problems encountered and the possible future situations. Air transport industry is closely related to global economic developments. The literature on the economic crisis and the interaction with the air transport industry was searched and relevant publications and studies were examined. In this study a method followed from general to specific by evaluating firstly the effects of the global financial crisis on world economy and on Turkish economy and then on global air transport industry and on air transport industry in Turkey. The effects of the 2008 global financial crisis on air transport industry in Turkey were examined by way of passenger traffic, load traffic and air traffic indicators, selected financial indicators of commercial air transport operators and the data of Turkish Airlines Corporation operator. As a result of the analyzes and evaluations, it has been understood that even if the growth rate of the air transport industry in Turkey has decreased in the global crisis period, the industry continues to grow unlike the global industry thanks to measures taken, geographical and regional conditions, demographic factors etc.