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Global Air Passenger Traffic to Hit 9.8B in 2025
Airports Council International (ACI) World now expects global air passenger traffic to reach 9.8 billion in 2025.
In its World Airport Traffic Report released on September 30, 2025, ACI World projected 2025 passenger volumes at 9.8 billion, up nearly 4% from 2024’s 9.4 billion. The forecast underscores a steady recovery and expansion after recent years of disruption, but the report flags that growth remains vulnerable to geopolitical events and macroeconomic shifts.
Western markets in particular are monitoring demand trends and capacity planning for the coming year. Airlines and airports face trade-offs: add seats to capture more traffic or hold back capacity to avoid overexposure if economic headwinds or geopolitical instability reduce travel demand.
Why global air passenger traffic matters
That headline figure — global air passenger traffic — matters because it drives fleet planning, airport investments, staffing and fuel demand across the industry. When carriers see sustained passenger growth they can justify new routes, aircraft orders and longer-term network changes. Conversely, unexpected downturns force short-term schedule cuts and route rationalisations.
- Key implications of rising global air passenger traffic: capacity planning, route adjustments, airport investments, fleet decisions and fuel/SAF demand.
Airports will also balance infrastructure upgrades with operational resilience. Even modest percentage changes at the global level translate into millions of extra passengers at major hubs, which affects terminal space, security resources and peak-hour slot allocations.
ACI World’s September 30, 2025 report is a reminder that while passenger volumes are trending upward, industry leaders must factor in geopolitical risk, inflationary pressures and shifting consumer behaviour when setting 2026 budgets and schedules.
