Global Aviation to Surge by 2025, Led by Asia and Europe
The global aviation industry is set to experience significant growth in the coming years, with international traffic expected to surge ahead of domestic travel. By 2025, international passenger numbers are forecasted to reach 5.3%, compared to a mere 2.4% for domestic traffic.
Regionally, the Asia-Pacific is anticipated to lead the growth, reaching 3.6 billion passengers by 2025, with a robust 5.6% year-on-year (YoY) increase driven by Southern and Southeast Asia. Europe is not far behind, expected to reach over 2.5 billion passengers with a 3.6% YoY growth, led by international travel. The Airports Council International (ACI) World predicts the largest growth in these two regions and the Middle East in the coming years.
Latin America-Caribbean is expected to reach 789 million passengers by 2025, with a 4.1% YoY growth, supported by leisure demand and the expansion of low-cost carriers. Africa, led by Northern Africa, is forecasted to reach 273 million passengers with a 9.4% YoY growth. North America is predicted to reach 2.1 billion passengers by 2025. The Middle East is expected to reach 466 million passengers with a 5.9% YoY growth, underpinned by investment and tourism.
By mid-2025, global passenger traffic is expected to increase by 2.1% YoY, with international traffic up by 4.9% YoY and domestic traffic down by 0.7% YoY. Overall, global air travel is expected to reach 9.8 billion passengers by the end of 2025, reflecting a 3.7% YoY growth from 2024.
