ACI World releases global airport traffic forecasts as long-term demand growth continues to reshape aviation

10.2 billion passengers forecasted in 2026; 18.8 billion by 2045, confirming sustained long-term demand

Montreal, 28 January 2026 - Airports Council International (ACI) World today released its World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025-2054, the industry's most comprehensive and authoritative outlook on global airport traffic.

Key highlights

• Global passenger traffic forecasted to reach 10.2 billion in 2026 (+3.9% YoY).
• Long-term demand remains strong with global passenger traffic projected to double by 2045 and reach 18.8 billion (3.4% CAGR).
• Although demand shows structural strength, it is increasingly uneven across regions, with mounting capacity constraints.

Sustained growth outlook holds

The long-term outlook is firmly positive. Global passenger traffic demand is projected to more than double by the mid-2040s, driven primarily by emerging and developing markets.

However, this growth is increasingly accompanied by:

• Capacity constraints, such as airport infrastructure limitations and aircraft delivery challenges.
• Uneven regional growth, with some markets significantly outperforming while others structurally lag.
• Operational complexity, driven by supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty and sustainability imperatives.

For further insights and regional breakdowns, download the Executive Summary of the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts (WATF) 2025-2054.

What this means for the industry: A call for collective action

"The forecast sends a clear signal to the global aviation community: long-term growth is not guaranteed without coordinated action" said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci. "To accommodate rising demand, the industry must accelerate investment in airport infrastructure, airspace capacity, and operational resilience, while strengthening collaboration across airports, airlines, governments, regulators, and industry partners.

"Without collective action, capacity constraints jeopardize the industry's ability to meet the projected demand and create operational bottlenecks, directly affecting the quality and reliability of the passenger journey. At the same time, insufficient investment to meet the projected demand would result in missed economic development opportunities at regional and national levels. Aviation plays a central role in global economic development (3.9% of global GDP; ATAG).

"Ensuring the sector can sustainably absorb future demand growth is therefore not only an industry priority, but a global economic imperative."

About the WATF

The ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts (WATF) 2025-2054 provides a comprehensive 30-year outlook on global airport demand, covering passenger traffic, air cargo, and aircraft movements across 176 markets. Using advanced machine-learning models, it delivers highly accurate, transparent forecasts to support data-driven planning and investment decisions worldwide.

About ACI

Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world's airports, is a federated organization comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2025, ACI serves 830 members, operating 2,181 airports in 170 countries.

Editor notes

1. Download the Executive Summary.
2. Access the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025-2054.