Key highlights
·
Global passenger
traffic forecasted to reach 10.2 billion in 2026 (+3.9% YoY).
·
Long-term demand
remains strong with global passenger traffic projected to double by 2045 and
reach 18.8 billion (3.4% CAGR).
·
Although demand
shows structural strength, it is increasingly uneven across regions, with
mounting capacity constraints.
Sustained growth
outlook holds
The long-term outlook is firmly positive. Global passenger traffic demand is projected to double by the mid-2040s, driven primarily by emerging and developing markets.
However, this growth is increasingly accompanied by:
·
Capacity
constraints, such as airport infrastructure limitations and aircraft delivery
challenges.
·
Uneven regional
growth, with some markets significantly outperforming while others structurally
lag.
·
Operational
complexity, driven by supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty and
sustainability imperatives.
What this means
for the industry: A call for collective action
“The forecast sends a clear signal to the global aviation community:
long-term growth is not guaranteed without coordinated action,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci. “To accommodate rising demand, the industry must accelerate
investment in airport infrastructure, airspace capacity, and operational
resilience, while strengthening collaboration across airports, airlines,
governments, regulators, and industry partners.”
“Without collective action, capacity constraints jeopardize the industry’s
ability to meet the projected demand and create operational bottlenecks,
directly affecting the quality and reliability of the passenger journey. At the
same time, insufficient investment to meet the projected demand would result in
missed economic development opportunities at regional and national levels.
Aviation plays a central role in global economic development (3.9% of global
GDP; ATAG).”
“Ensuring the sector can sustainably absorb future demand growth is
therefore not only an industry priority, but a global economic imperative.”
Tags: Justin Erbacci ACI World
