Global airport traffic hits record 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, but growth slows in 2026

Global airports handled a record 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, according to Airports Council International (ACI) World, as international travel continued to drive the recovery in global aviation. However, the organisation says passenger growth has slowed significantly in the first half of 2026 amid geopolitical tensions, airspace disruptions and rising costs.

The 2025 figures, based on data from 2,817 commercial airports, show passenger traffic increasing by 3.7% compared with 2024. International traffic grew by 6.1%, while domestic traffic increased by 1.7%. Air cargo also reached a record 131.2 million tonnes, up 3.3%, while aircraft movements rose 2.0% to 103.1 million.

Africa recorded the strongest passenger growth in 2025 at 9.0%, followed by the Middle East (+6.5%), Asia-Pacific (+5.1%), Latin America and the Caribbean (+4.5%) and Europe (+4.2%). North America was the only region to record a decline, with traffic down 0.7%.

The picture has changed considerably in 2026. Global passenger traffic reached approximately 4.7 billion in the first half of the year, representing growth of just 0.6% compared with the same period in 2025. The Middle East was particularly affected, with airport passenger traffic down 21%, according to ACI World, amid the region’s escalating crisis and airspace disruption.

Despite the slowdown, ACI World says the long-term outlook for aviation remains supported by population growth, rising incomes, expanding connectivity and continued demand for international mobility.