Airport group predicts massive growth in global air travellers

If you think airports are busy now, just wait for 2053 when the Airports Council International expects 22.3 billion global passengers — nearly 2.4 times the projected volume for 2024.

The airport organisation’s recently released 30-year forecasts project significant long-term growth in global passenger traffic. Between 2024 and 2043, global passenger traffic is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.4 per cent, reaching 17.7 billion passengers, before climbing to 22.3 billion by 2053.

International passenger traffic is expected to grow at a faster rate than domestic traffic over the next three decades. From 2024 to 2053, international traffic is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.3 per cent, while domestic traffic will expand at a slightly slower pace of 2.8 per cent.

The number of aircraft movements is expected to reach 149 million by 2043 and 176 million by 2053, according to ACI. Airports worldwide will need to prepare for this growth by enhancing operational efficiency and investing in infrastructure, it says.

ACI believes traffic growth will be driven by rising middle-class travel demand in emerging markets, strengthened international travel and continued investments in airport infrastructure. The industry is facing significant short-term challenges, however, with ACI pointing to geopolitical tensions, economic instability, trade shifts such as reintroduced tariffs, and supply chain bottlenecks, which may slow recovery in some regions.

“Despite the challenges in the near term, global air travel is poised for steady, sustained growth. It is crucial for airports, airlines, and policymakers to take bold, forward-thinking action to anticipate and meet the demands of the future,” says ACI world director-general Justin Erbacci.