Policymakers must support airport investment as global air travel demand rises
ACI World's Airport Economics Report shows global passenger traffic reached 9.4 billion in 2024, exceeding 2019 by 4%, but airport revenues remain below pre-pandemic levels. The report urges policymakers to support airport investment to sustain connectivity and economic growth.
Impact and considerations
Airport revenue recovery lags traffic rebound, impacting infrastructure investment and operations, potentially affecting capacity and service quality for business travelers.
Key points
- Global passenger traffic reached 9.4 billion in 2024, exceeding 2019 by 4%.
- Total airport revenues reached US$194.9 billion, remaining 2.1% below pre-pandemic levels in real terms.
- Aeronautical revenues, 54% of total, remained 3% below 2019, expected to recover in 2025.
- Non-aeronautical revenues, 37% of total, remained 9% below 2019, projected to recover by mid-2026.
- Global ROIC rose to 6.3%, still below WACC.
- ACI urges policymakers to support airport investment for financial resilience.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Airports Council International World
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 17 Mar 2026, 12:05
- Page published
- 12 Aug 2026, 14:29
- Last updated
- 17 Mar 2026, 12:05
- Original links
- ACI World RSS：Policymakers must support airport investment as global air travel demand rises (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 17 Mar 2026, 12:05