Airports Council International (ACI) World reported that global airports handled a record 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, while air cargo volumes also reached an all-time high. But momentum has cooled in 2026, with passenger growth slowing amid mounting geopolitical and economic headwinds, even as cargo continues to expand.

The figures, published in ACI World's 2026 Annual World Airport Traffic Report, draw on data from 2,817 commercial airports worldwide � ACI World's largest dataset to date � capturing an estimated 97% of scheduled global passenger traffic and offering the most comprehensive picture yet of how the world moves through its airports.

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%.

Passenger growth was strong across almost every region. Africa led the way with a 9.0% rise in traffic, followed by the Middle East (6.5%), Asia-Pacific (5.1%), and Latin America and the Caribbean (4.5%). Europe also posted solid growth, at 4.2%. North America was the exception, with traffic dipping 0.7% amid softer domestic demand.

Source: Airports Council International

 

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