ACI World
28 Jan 2026
Airports Council International (ACI) World today released its World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025–2054, the industry’s most comprehensive and authoritative outlook on global airport traffic.
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 more than 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.
