Global airports handled a record 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, but the aviation industry has faced a more difficult start to 2026, with passenger traffic in the Middle East falling 21 per cent during the first half of the year amid geopolitical tensions and airspace disruptions.
The figures were published by Airports Council International World in its 2026 Annual World Airport Traffic Report, which showed that global passenger growth slowed sharply during the first six months of the year.
About 4.7 billion passengers travelled through airports worldwide in the first half of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of only 0.6 per cent.
The Middle East recorded the largest regional decline as escalating tensions and disruptions to airspace affected flights and passenger activity. The downturn marked a significant change from 2025, when the region was among the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Middle Eastern passenger traffic increased 6.5 per cent in 2025, behind only Africa, where traffic grew 9 per cent. Passenger numbers in Asia-Pacific rose 5.1 per cent, while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded growth of 4.5 per cent. European passenger traffic increased 4.2 per cent.
North America was the only region to record a decline in 2025, with passenger traffic falling 0.7 per cent as domestic demand weakened.
International travel was a major contributor to the record global passenger total last year. International passenger traffic grew 6.1 per cent, compared with a 1.7 per cent increase in domestic travel.
ACI World’s report is based on information from 2,817 commercial airports, representing an estimated 97 per cent of scheduled passenger traffic worldwide.
Air cargo activity also reached a record level in 2025. Global cargo volumes increased 3.3 per cent to 131.2 million tonnes, while aircraft movements rose 2 per cent to 103.1 million.
Cargo traffic has continued to expand in 2026 despite economic and geopolitical pressures. Passenger growth, however, has been uneven across regions. Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific continued to record increases during the opening months of the year, while North American traffic remained broadly stable.
ACI World said rising costs and wider economic uncertainty were also affecting the industry’s near-term outlook.
Despite the challenges, the organisation said long-term demand for air travel remained supported by population growth, higher incomes, expanding connectivity and continued demand for mobility.
Justin Erbacci, director general of ACI World, said the record passenger numbers recorded in 2025 showed the strength of long-term demand and highlighted the need for airports to prepare for future growth.
He said meeting that demand would require airports to expand capacity while making better use of existing infrastructure, supported by regulations that encourage investment.
