The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is forecasting that key airspace safety and efficiency modernization efforts will play a vital role in spurring long-term sustained growth in air travel and the US overall economic health.

This forecast, which comes after a short-term period of slow growth in aviation activity, underscores the need for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and continued investment in airport infrastructure projects, according to FAA.

“A safe, efficient and vibrant aviation system is vital to our nation’s economic health,” said US Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood," in a statement.

“We must find long-term solutions that will keep the US aviation industry competitive and moving forward into the future.”

The FAA’s 20-year forecast for Fiscal Years 2010-2030 predicts US passenger enplanements will increase by 0.5 percent in 2010 and then grow an average of 2.5 percent per year during the remaining forecast period.

Total operations at US airports are forecast to decrease 2.7 percent to 51.5 million in 2010, and then grow at an average annual rate of 1.5 percent reaching 69.6 million in 2030.