Airports Council International World (ACI-World) is projecting that global air traffic will reach 9.4 billion passengers next year, surpassing the 2019 high of 9.2 billion passengers.
ACI-World said global passenger volume in 2023 is expected to reach 8.6 billion passengers, which is 94.2 percent of the 2019 level. It added the Latin America-Caribbean region is forecasted to be the first region to surpass its 2019 level. In 2023, the region is estimated to reach 707 million passengers, or 102.9 percent of the 2019 level.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have a substantial jump in passenger traffic in the first half of 2023 along with the ongoing opening of the Chinese market, though its recovery is predicted to slow down significantly in the second half of the year due to challenges in overseas tourism and looming economic concerns. The region is expected to reach approximately 3.4 billion passengers in 2024, or 99.5% of the 2019 level.
“ACI World projects that global air travel will nearly return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023, with all regions expected to reach this milestone by 2024,: said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general of ACI World. “Upside factors include the reopening of the Chinese market and surge in domestic travel, supply chain disruptions gradually subsiding, and inflation slowing down.”
ACI-World said growth in air traffic in Europe should slow down this year following a sharp uptick in 2022, but is expected to reach 2.5 billion in 2024, 101.4 percent of 2019 levels, while the Middle East should reach 394 million passengers this year and 429 million in 2024, 105.4 percent of the region’s 2019 levels.
North America air travel should reach 2.0 billion passengers in 2023, 99.8 percent of 2019 levels, before reaching 2.1 billion travelers next year, 103.7 percent of 2019.
