Global passenger traffic to hit 22.3bn by 2053: ACI

Airports Council International (ACI) World has unveiled its anticipated Airport Traffic Forecasts 2024–2053, projecting significant long-term growth in global passenger traffic. Over the next three decades, global passenger numbers are expected to reach 17.7b by 2043 and 22.3b by 2053, the later nearly 2.4 times the projected volume for 2024. The new forecasts, which cover 99.8% of global markets across 161 countries, highlight a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2024 to 2043, with a slightly slower CAGR of 3% from 2024 to 2053. The projections indicate a steady upward trajectory in global aviation, driven by factors such as rising middle-class travel demand in emerging markets, strengthened international travel, and continued investments in airport infrastructure. However, short-term challenges include geopolitical tensions, economic instability, trade shifts like reintroduced tariffs, and supply chain bottlenecks, which may slow recovery in some regions.<br/>