IATA Projects Global Air Travel Demand to More Than Double by 2050
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its Long-Term Demand Projections (LTDP), forecasting that global air passenger demand will more than double by 2050. Under the mid-range scenario, demand is projected to reach 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) by 2050, up from 9 trillion RPKs recorded in 2024 - representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1%. Higher and lower growth scenarios place the figure between 19.5 and 21.9 trillion RPKs, shaped by variables including economic growth, population trends, aviation fuel prices, and infrastructure development.
Africa and Asia-Pacific are identified as the fastest-growing regions under the mid-range scenario, with CAGRs of 3.6% and 3.8% respectively, significantly outpacing Europe (2.5%) and North America (2.8%). Intra-Africa routes are projected to be the single fastest-growing market globally at 4.9% CAGR, underscoring the continent's rising significance to international aviation. IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that the projections provide governments, industry stakeholders, and energy suppliers with a robust basis for long-term planning, stressing the need for supportive policy frameworks around infrastructure, market access, regulatory harmonisation, and the clean energy transition.
