Global air traffic - scheduled passengers 2004-2022

In 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the estimated number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry amounted to just over 2.2 billion people. This represents a 50 percent loss in global air passenger traffic compared to 2019.

Airline passenger traffic

The number of scheduled passengers handled by the global airline industry has increased in all but one of the last decade. Scheduled passengers refer to the number of passengers who have booked a flight with a commercial airline. Excluded are passengers on charter flights, whereby an entire plane is booked by a private group. In 2019, the Asia Pacific region had the highest share of airline passenger traffic accounting for one third of the global total. The region also includes the busiest air routes.

Reasons for growth

Three main reasons are generally cited to explain the ongoing global growth in air travel. First is the increase in low-cost carriers, who have almost doubled their market share over the last 15 years. Second is the growth of the global middle class, especially in China. Both these developments have increased the number of consumers able to afford air travel. Finally, there is also the growth in airport infrastructure spending, led by the Asia Pacific region, which has increased the global carrying capacity.