Air passenger traffic to near pre-Covid level in 2023: ACI
Global passenger traffic is forecast to reach 92% (or 8.4 billion passengers) of 2019 levels in 2023, said the Airports Council International (ACI) World in its latest quarterly airport traffic outlook.
The report shows an upsurge in air travel demand across many markets amidst heightened macroeconomic risks. The quarterly update is released in tandem with the annual ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts, revealing expected air traffic to 2041.
Highlights from the 12th Advisory Bulletin on the impact of Covid-19 on the airport business:
• With the removal of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers in 2022, there has been an upsurge in demand across many markets.
• Global passenger traffic finished the year at 72% of 2019 levels, or a total of 6.5 billion passengers.
• Market segments vary markedly – international passenger numbers were at 60% of 2019 levels whereas domestic were at 79% in 2022.
• The recovery in passenger volumes in 2022 remained uneven across the globe with Latin American-Caribbean markets reaching 91% of 2019 levels whereas the Asia-Pacific region lagged at 52%.
• The baseline projections for global passenger traffic indicate that the industry will recover to 2019 levels by 2024, driven mainly by domestic travel.
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “The surge in air travel following the lifting of restrictions in 2022 continues into 2023. We know from our Global Traveller Survey covering 4,125 respondents across 30 countries, that 86% of respondents plan to travel by air in 2023—this is the highest intention to travel score since the beginning of the pandemic.
“However, we are cognizant that the speed of the recovery depends on several factors. On the one hand, the possible slowing in GDP growth in major economies coupled with the rise in airfares due to higher jet fuel prices weigh negatively on demand. On the other hand, a strong labour market and the re-opening of China, the second largest aviation market after the United States, represents an important boost to global passenger traffic.”
The ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2022–2041 reveals:
• Passenger traffic worldwide is expected to reach 19.3 billion in 2041.
• In 2041, airports are predicted to handle almost 200 million tonnes of air cargo worldwide. The US and China will remain the two largest markets, together accounting for 40% of global cargo.
• Airports worldwide will see 153.8 million aircraft movements by 2041. The United States, China, and India are predicted to be the leading markets for aircraft movements in 2041, respectively, hosting 23%, 16%, and 4% of global aircraft movements. – TradeArabia News Service