Passenger traffic levels at airports in all the world’s regions surpassed 2019 levels in 2024, presaging significant growth over the next 30 years, Airports Council International World (ACI) said in its latest forecast.
Overall, airports globally handled 9.5 billion passengers in 2024, up 9% over 2023 and 104% of 2019 levels, according to preliminary ACI figures the organization said will be confirmed in July. Global passengers will reach 9.9 billion in 2025, ACI forecasts, which would be up 4.8% over 2024.
“While passenger demand remains strong, the pace of expansion is expected to slow as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term growth patterns,” ACI said. “Key challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and airline capacity constraints are expected to increasingly shape the industry’s trajectory.”
The Montreal-based organization foresees “demand stabilization,” which—combined with aircraft supply chain issues and “airport capacity shortage”—could “temper growth” in advanced markets. In emerging markets, “high infrastructure investment and rising middle-class travel demand will likely continue to drive expansion,” ACI said.
The organization predicts strong passenger traffic growth over the next 30 years, with airports worldwide handling 17.7 billion passengers in 2043 and 18.7 billion in 2045, nearly double 2024 levels. Airports globally will process 22.3 billion passengers by 2053, ACI predicts.
But the organization noted three to four years of “growth potential” have been lost because of the pandemic. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, global passenger volume was expected to reach 11.4 billion in 2024, 20% above the actual figure for last year.
ACI foresees China surpassing the U.S. as the world’s largest air transport market by passenger volume by 2042. It also forecasts that Indonesia will jump from the 13th-largest market to the fourth largest by 2042, with India remaining at the number three position it holds now. Spain, currently the fourth-biggest market, rounds out the expected 2042 top five.
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