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The purpose of this Dissertation is to investigate the evolution of passenger air traffic from 2005 to 2018 and the contribution of air carriers to the economy and tourism. The research methodology is based on quantitative analysis with a collection of secondary data and a diagrammatic representation. Data is derived from reliable statistical databases such as the World Bank, the World Tourism Organization, Eurostat, IATA, and others. The Dissertation concludes that the reduction of airfreight costs leads to increased accessibility for new destinations. In this sense, the existence of airports or hubs in a region contributes to the increase of the region's competitiveness and support of its economic, social, and cultural development. Finally, governments and policy makers are required to take a strategic direction to consider the complexity of the relationship between air transport and tourism.