Global passenger traffic projected to reach 9.5bn in 2024
As infrastructure and operations are reshaped, the global airport industry, whose revenues are set to reach US$ 194.4bn in 2024, will continue exploring and acquiring the best-in-class technology and automation solutions throughout 2025.
The Airports Council International (ACI) World, in its annual World Airport Traffic Report, forecasts global passenger traffic to increase by 10 percent, reaching 9.5bn passengers in 2024, based on data from over 2,700 airports across 180 countries. In 2023, it stood at 8.7bn, reaching 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
By the end of 2024, international passenger traffic will reach 4.1bn, accounting for 43 percent of total passengers. The domestic passenger traffic is expected to reach 5.4bn, making up 57 percent of the total.
ACI World further projects that the global airport investment is set to reach US$ 2,404bn in 2040 while the Middle East aviation market is due to reach US$ 33.70bn in size by 2029. Middle Eastern airports are due to spend US$ 151bn on the expansion of their capacity and enhancing passenger and cargo facilities.
“Dubai, a key hub at the crossroads of global travel, is investing US$ 35bn in the second phase of development of the Al Maktoum International – Dubai World Central (DWC) to become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of up to 260mn passengers annually. Airports across the region are also modernizing and expanding to meet growing demand, with a combined project value of over US$ 1.3tn across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,” asserted HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Chairman, Dubai Airports; Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.
