Global passenger traffic is predicted to hit a whopping 9.5 billion this year – a 10 per cent year-on-year increase on 2023 – and exceed four per cent of pre-pandemic numbers with international travel movements driving the ongoing recovery.
Airports Council International (ACI) World crunched the data from more than 2,700 airports across 180-plus countries and territories to make its global passenger traffic forecast.
Despite this positive growth, the 2024 Annual World Airport Traffic Report highlights potential risks, such as ongoing geopolitical tensions, labour market shortages and aircraft delivery bottlenecks that could impact the long-term outlook.
However, it says the sustained recovery of international passenger levels and a return to profitability for airlines signal a positive momentum for global aviation.
The global traffic forecast is down by one billion travellers against pre-pandemic predictions for 2024 when passenger numbers were expected to hit 10.5 billion this year.
Earlier this year, UN Tourism predicted a full international travel recovery in 2024.
International travel leads the recovery
International travel drove the recovery for the first half of the year with a 17 per cent increase by June 2024, while the domestic market grew by six per cent in the first half of 2024.
IATA also reported a 12.3 per cent increase in international passenger figures in June 2024 with global passenger traffic up across all regions after exceeding pre-pandemic figures for the first time earlier this year.
This tracks with recent remarks made by Delta Air Lines Vice President APAC Jeff Moomaw at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia Pacific 2024, noting the opportunities in the long-haul aviation market.
In 2024, international passenger traffic is expected to reach 4.1 billion, accounting for 43 per cent of total global pax.
Domestic passenger traffic is projected to hit 5.4 billion by the end of 2024, making up 57 per cent of the total.
In 2023, global passenger traffic reached 8.7 billion, representing an increase of 30.6 per cent on 2022 and 95 per cent recovery of pre-pandemic results.
ACI World forecasts global passenger traffic will reach 19.3 billion by 2042 with domestic traffic to hit 10.6 billion and international traffic set to reach 8.7 billion.
