Airports Council International (ACI) World says global passenger traffic is expected to recover in early 2024 to reach 9.4 billion passengers.

Highlights from ACI World’s 14th Advisory Bulletin on the impact of COVID-19 on the airport business—and the path to recovery report includes that the year 2024 is expected to be a milestone for global passenger traffic recovery. It is predicted to reach 9.4 billion passengers, surpassing the year 2019 that welcomed 9.2 billion passengers.

The report forecasts that the Latin America-Caribbean region will be the first region to surpass its 2019 level. In 2023, the region is estimated to reach 707 million passengers, or 102.9 pc of the 2019 level.

According to the ACI report, the gap between the Business as Usual (BAU) forecast from 2019 and the current recovery projections reveal that the percentage of lost traffic continues to decrease on a quarterly basis, from 23 pc in Q1 2023 to 13 pc in Q4 2024.

While the Asia-Pacific region is expected to have a substantial jump in passenger traffic in the first half of 2023 along with the ongoing opening of the Chinese market, its recovery is predicted to slow down significantly in the second half of the year due to challenges in overseas tourism and looming economic concerns. The region is expected to reach approximately 3.4 billion passengers in 2024, or 99.5% of the 2019 level.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira

“ACI World projects that global air travel will nearly return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023, with all regions expected to reach this milestone by 2024. Upside factors include the reopening of the Chinese market and surge in domestic travel, supply chain disruptions gradually subsiding, and inflation slowing down. While downside risks remain present, we continue to witness the dedicated efforts and commitment of ACI airport members and partners, and we are filled with optimism about the industry’s future. Aviation is a key driver of growth, jobs, and prosperity, providing employment, social benefits, and economic development to communities worldwide. This sector remains a steadfast force in global economic recovery, bridging connections among people, cultures, and economies,” says ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira.

The statement adds that the data is gathered from an extensive network of over 2,600 airports spanning more than 180 countries and territories worldwide. Curated by leading industry economists, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of global airport traffic trends, including rankings and evaluations of passenger, cargo, and aircraft traffic data for the operating year 2022 and first half of 2023.