The Global Distribution of Air Traffic at High Altitudes, Related Fuel Consumption and Trends

The total air transport system consists of many components, the main parts being the military and the civil aviation which consists again of the commercial air transportation with scheduled and charter air services and of the non-commercial or general aviation. Whereas general aviation can be regarded as a means of flying primarily for private and leisure purposes of individuals in lower altitudes — however, business travel by company owned aircraft belongs to general aviation as well — it is the commercial air transportation flying in high altitudes which serves the general public as a transport mode providing national and international services.