Not sure whether to be excited about the number of new customers for Travel Agents or terrified by the extensive air traffic required to carry 7.8 BILLION flyers in 2036.
Literally us right now…
According to latest estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of air travellers flying every year is expected climb drastically over the next two decades from 4 billion (this year) to 7.4 billion.
Asia Pacific markets are expected to drive this growth by providing more than half of the new passengers over the next 20 years.
In fact, growth from Asia is likely to be so strong that China will overtake the US as the world’s largest aviation market by 2022, two years closer than the previous forecast.
India is expected to fly its way past the UK market in 2025, followed by Indonesia in 2030, while Thailand and Turkey will replace France and Italy in the top 10 within the next twenty years.
IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive, Alexandre de Juniac, said that although this extra air traffic will require further aviation infrastructure, he doesn’t believe this should mean expanding on existing gateways.
Instead, Juniac recommends airports consider spreading operations to other locations.
“The solution does not lie in more complex processes or building bigger and bigger airports but in harnessing the power of new technology to move activity off-airport, streamline processes and improve efficiency.”
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA Director General and Chief Executive
Click here to read the full report.
READ: How long are you willing to fly on a plane non-stop?
READ: A young boy brightens up a plane with one simple gesture