The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published a new report, according to which almost 5 billion passengers will travel by air in 2025.

The organization forecasts continued industry growth for 2026. Global passenger traffic is expected to increase by 4,4%, bringing the total number of passengers to over 5,2 billion. The number of aircraft departures is projected to grow by 3,6% to 40,3 million, while passenger turnover is expected to increase by 4,9%.

The most significant passenger turnover growth is projected for airlines in the Asia-Pacific region—8,0% year-on-year. The passenger load factor could reach a historic high of 83,8% in 2026.

These figures indicate that the aviation industry has not only recovered from the pandemic, but has also exceeded the pre-crisis peak of 2019.

The IATA report notes that between 2024 and 2026, passenger traffic growth will exceed global GDP growth by 1,5 times. This is lower than the historical growth rate of 2,3 times observed over the past 30 years.