Asia-Pacific set to dominate global air traffic growth, says ACI
March 25, 2025
Asia-Pacific will lead the world in passenger traffic over the next three decades, with volumes exceeding those of other regions, according to Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East.
Speaking at Routes Asia 2025 in Perth, Baronci emphasised the scale of growth the region should expect in the coming years.
“We see that Asia-Pacific will be dominating in terms of passenger traffic in 10 years’ time, in 20 years’ time, in 30 years’ time, at volumes in relative terms, in absolute terms, that are significantly beyond other regions of the world,” he said.
Baronci predicated “big numbers” for the region. “What does [this growth] mean? It means certainly that we will have to expect big numbers coming very soon,” he said, in an address to attendees of the route planning conference, being hosted this year in the capital of Western Australia.
“The Asian population today is about 4.7 billion. Again, we expect, according to the United Nation estimation, this population to grow to 5.25 billion people in 30 years.”
The rapid growth in passenger demand will place increasing pressure on airport infrastructure, airline capacity, and air traffic management services.
With many countries in the region investing in airport expansions and modernisation projects, governments and operators are responding to the anticipated surge, he said.
