Global demand for air travel will more than double by 2050. compared to current levels, according to a forecast published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Global passenger traffic will reach 20.8 trillion passenger kilometers by mid-century. The average annual growth rate from 2024 to 2050 will be 3.1%. By the end of 2024, this figure was 9 trillion passenger kilometers.
„The outlook for air travel is positive. People want to travel and, according to all our modeled scenarios, demand for air travel is expected to more than double by mid-century. This is good news for global economic and social development, as the growth of aviation will create new opportunities, including jobs, around the world“, commented IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
According to IATA, emerging markets will be responsible for the majority of this growth. The Asia-Pacific region (3.8%) and Africa (3.6%) will lead the growth. Meanwhile, the European and North American markets will show more moderate growth – 2.5% and 2.8% respectively.