Global Airport Passenger Traffic Hits Record 9.8 Billion in 2025,Africa Sees Strongest Growth

The global representative body for airports, Airports Council International (ACI) World, reported today that a record number of 9.8-billion passengers had passed through the world’s airports last year.

This figure was published in the 'ACI World’s 2026 Annual World Airport Traffic Report'. It was calculated using data from 2 817 commercial airports around the world, together responsible for about 97% of global scheduled passenger traffic. 

The report reveals that nearly all regions saw strong year-on-year passenger growth last year. Africa had the greatest growth at 9%, followed by the Middle East at 6.5%. Then came the Asia-Pacific (5.1%), Latin America and the Caribbean (4.5%) and Europe (4.2%). However, North America, saw a year-on-year decline of -0.7%, due to reduced domestic travel.

“The 2025 results confirm what this industry has shown year after year: long-term demand for air travel remains strong, and more capacity will be needed,” highlighted ACI World director-generalJustin Erbacci.

“Meeting that demand means expanding capacity while getting far more out of the infrastructure we already have. It also means advocating for regulation that enables investment rather than blocking it and never losing sight of the fact that airports are strategic assets for their communities,"he added.

This rise in demand was driven by international travel. Passenger traffic jumped 6.1%, year-on-year.

Air cargo reached a record 131.2 million tonnes over the year, while aircraft movements climbed to 103.1 million.  

Yet the headline numbers mask a more unsettled picture emerging in 2026. Geopolitical tensions, airspace disruption and rising costs have begun to reshape the industry’s near-term outlook, the report warns. 

"International travel drove the growth, with passenger traffic up 6.1%, comfortably outpacing domestic growth of 1.7%. Global air cargo rose 3.3%, while aircraft movements increased 2.0%,"states ACI(World).

The global representative body for airports remain confident of continued growth despite the shacky first half of this year.

"Yet for all the near-term volatility, the report’s underlying message is one of confidence confidence: the long-run drivers of aviation demand, i.e. rising populations, growing incomes, expanding connectivity and an enduring appetite for mobility remain firmly intact