Global air travel to reach 9.8 billion passengers in 2025: ACI
Global air travel is projected to reach 9.8 billion passengers for 2025 in accordance to Airports Council International (ACI) World’s newly launched World Airport Traffic Report (WATR). While worldwide travel is driving progress, regional disparities and medium-term challenges sign a assorted outlook.
ACI World’s flagship annual report attracts from over 2,800 airports throughout greater than 185 nations and territories, providing probably the most in depth overview of the worldwide airport business.
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci stated: “Air travel is on track to reach 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, underscoring aviation’s role as a driver of global mobility and economic growth. International travel remains the main engine of growth, but regional variations reflect a mix of structural strengths, policy challenges, and evolving travel patterns. To sustain air travel demand globally, regulators must foster policies and frameworks that enable improved connectivity, long-term resilience and sustainable growth.”
Global highlights
- 2025 international passenger site visitors is projected to reach 9.8 billion passengers, reflecting a 3.7% Year-on-Year (YoY) progress from 2024.
- International site visitors is predicted to develop 5.3% in 2025, in contrast to 2.4% for home site visitors.
- By mid-2025 Year-to-Date (YTD), international passenger site visitors was up 2.1% YoY; worldwide site visitors grew 4.9% YoY, whereas home site visitors contracted 0.7% YoY.
Regional highlights
- Africa: Forecasted to reach 273 million passengers in 2025 (+9.4% YoY), led by Northern Africa and boosted by tourism and rising middle-class demand.
- Asia-Pacific: Forecasted to reach 3.6 billion passengers in 2025 (+5.6% YoY), with Southern and Southeast Asia driving progress; East Asia`s outlook stays cautious.
- Europe: Forecasted to reach over 2.5 billion passengers in 2025 (+3.6% YoY); worldwide travel main progress, whereas home volumes lag due to rail features.
- Latin America–Caribbean: Forecasted to reach 789 million passengers in 2025 (+4.1% YoY); momentum supported by leisure demand and low-cost provider growth.
- Middle East: Forecasted to reach 466 million passengers in 2025 (+5.9% YoY); underpinned by funding and tourism, although dangers from geopolitical instability stay.
- North America: Forecasted to reach 2.1 billion passengers in 2025.
Expanding aviation market, assorted trajectories
Global passenger site visitors continues to develop inconsistently throughout areas, reflecting a mixture of structural strengths, coverage challenges, and evolving travel patterns. Emerging aviation markets reminiscent of in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America are driving progress, supported by rising demand and a rising presence of low-cost carriers.
In distinction, superior aviation markets—together with elements of East Asia, Europe, and North America—face a extra unsure outlook amid geopolitical tensions, demographic shifts (reminiscent of ageing in some areas), and modifications in traveller behaviour (reminiscent of uncertainty in travel and visa insurance policies).
Overall, the worldwide aviation market is increasing, however its trajectory stays delicate to geopolitical occasions, macroeconomic circumstances and region-specific headwinds.