In 2023, the estimated number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry amounted to approximately 4.5 billion people. This represents a significant increase compared to the previous year since the pandemic started and the positive trend was forecast to continue in 2024, with the scheduled passenger volume reaching just below five billion travelers.
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 2023, the Asia Pacific region had the highest share of airline passenger traffic, accounting for one third of the global total.
Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024
(in millions)
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IATA. (May 29, 2024). Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 08, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA
IATA. "Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024 (in millions)." Chart. May 29, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA
IATA. (2024). Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA
IATA. "Number of Scheduled Passengers Boarded by The Global Airline Industry from 2004 to 2024 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA
IATA, Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA (last visited December 08, 2024)
Number of scheduled passengers boarded by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2024 (in millions) [Graph], IATA, May 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/?fbclid=IwAR2OPkzgjfcJPbixNSCjnhRaQ5_s2fSsdrNhcEeFlD_Lfq8qJSp0WTj88aA