Global commercial passenger traffic is projected to reach 9.7 billion in 2024, surpassing 2019 levels, and is expected to double by 2042, according to the world airport traffic forecast released by Airports Council International (ACI) World.
The latest forecast provides a comprehensive 30-year perspective on airport traffic forecasts at global, regional, and country levels. While the U.S. is currently the leading country in terms of passenger traffic, China will have the number one spot by 2042, as well as in 2052, the report predicted. India is expected to be the third largest country in terms of passenger traffic in 2042 and 2052, with Indonesia and Spain rounding out the top five.
“In the long-term, the global passenger market dynamic is expected to transition from advanced economies towards emerging and developing ones,” said ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira, noting that many of these regions should experience significant urbanization and population increases. “Investing responsibly in current and new infrastructure remains key to ensuring that we can sustainably meet capacity growth to maximize the social and economic benefits of aviation.”
The report also projects global passenger traffic is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% from 2023 to 2042 and 3.6% from 2042 to 2052, noting that by 2052 passenger traffic will be 2.5 times higher than it is today.
