IATA anticipates 8.2b air travellers will take to the skies in 2037, a doubling in passengers from 2018 levels. The number of travellers is projected to grow at a 3.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), supported by strong expected growth in the Asia-Pacific region, according to IATA’s 20 Year Air Passenger Forecast, released Oct 24. The association cautioned, however, that the predicted growth in air transport and the economic gains it produces, could be jeopardised if govts decide to pursue protectionist trade and economic policies. More than half the total number of new passengers over the next two decades will come from the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a combination of strong economic growth, expanding middle classes and favourable population and demographic trends. <br/>
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US airports are disappointed Congress opted not to increase funds they receive for infrastructure construction in the FAA reauthorisation bill, putting pressure on them to generate funds to shore up facilities during record passenger demand. “When you look at the final bill, we ended up with a status quo approach,” American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) EVP-govt and public affairs Joel Bacon said. “This bill does not represent significant progress in solving the fundamental issues we have with serially underinvesting in airport facilities.” Under the bill, Airport Improvement Program funds are set at US$3.2b annually, which has remained roughly flat since the turn of the century and is less than half the $7b FAA has estimated airports need to meet their infrastructure needs each year. <br/>
IATA is warning Latin America is heading towards an infrastructure crisis unless govts in the region take action now to tackle looming airport capacity and airspace issues. "Our requirements are not complicated. We need sufficient capacity in terms of runways, terminals and airspace. Quality must be aligned with our technical and commercial needs. And it all must be affordable," IATA DG Alexandre de said Monday. "I believe, however, that we are headed for an infrastructure crisis - and that includes in Latin America. The capacity challenges at key hub locations such as Buenos Aires, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, Havana and Santiago are well documented. Unless they are addressed, the region's economies will suffer." <br/>
Delays at passport control at UK airports should ease from next summer as 5 more countries become eligible to use ePassport gates. Passengers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USs in addition to British and EU nationals will be able to use the automatic gates from summer 2019. The changes will apply to an estimated 6m international travellers arriving in the UK every year, the UK govt said. Airlines UK, the industry’s trade body welcomed the announcement with CE Tim Alderslade saying: “As passenger numbers continue to rise, UK Border Force must be adequately resourced and adopt new approaches in order to prevent a repeat of last summer, where lengthy border queues were experienced at a number of UK airports." <br/>
The Indonesian govt plans to build a new airport outside Jakarta to accommodate a growing number of business travellers and tourists as the country’s economy expands. The project is expected to cost roughly US$10b. It will become the largest infrastructure development project under the govt of president Joko Widodo since its inauguration in Oct 2014. The plan involves establishing a joint venture to run the new airport, which would be 51%t owned by Angkasa Pura II, the state-backed operator of Soekarno-Hatta, with private investors owning the remaining 49%. A more detailed financing scheme for the project has yet to be worked out. The new airport will have 2 runways, a passenger terminal and a maintenance centre for aircraft. A railway and highway are also under consideration. <br/>