A m1nd-set traffic forecast is compiled via a unique data tool, B1S, in partnership with IATA and their air traffic data partner ARC, which comprises the world’s most comprehensive traffic and traffic forecast database (DDS).
This air traffic forecast for 2023 includes a 4-year forecast up until 2026. Both Asia and the Pacific will see the largest year on year percentage gains in air traffic in 2023 according to Swiss research agency.
Asia will see a 75% increase in traffic this year versus 2022 traffic, reaching 226 million passengers, an increase which represents only 46% of the pre-pandemic traffic levels in 2019. The Pacific region will see the second largest year-on-year traffic increase, up 36% on 2022 levels, albeit from a smaller base, reaching 19 million passengers in 2023, which represents 61% of the 2019 levels.
Traffic across Asia Pacific will reach pre-pandemic levels by 2026. In Asia, international departures will eventually surpass the 2019 traffic in 2026 with 552 million passengers, growing from 334 million in 2024 and 448 million passengers in 2025. Asia will see the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2023 and 2026 of 36%. In the Pacific region, air traffic will see a CAGR from 2023 to 2026 of 17%, growing from 19 million passengers this year, to 24 million in 2024, 28 million in 2025 and eventually surpass 2019 levels with 32 million international passengers by 2026.
The third largest growth percentagewise will come from North America in 2023, reaching 150 million passengers, which represents 121% of the 2022 level and is nearing the pre-pandemic level at 92% of 2019 traffic. Traffic in North America between 2023 and 2026 will see a CAGR of more than 7.5%. Traffic will surpass the pre-pandemic levels in North America by 2024, when international departures will reach 166 million. By 2025, traffic in North America will reach 182 million and 196 million by 2026.
The Middle East will see international air traffic increase by 15% in 2023 to reach 126 million, which is 82% of the 2019 level. The CAGR in the Middle East will fall just short of 10%, but the region will not see traffic surpass the pre-pandemic levels until 2025, by which time international traffic will have reached 160 million, up from 143 million in 2024. In 2026, traffic in the Middle East will reach 175 million international departures.
Europe represents the largest world region for international air traffic with 728 million international departures forecast for 2023, up 8% on 2022 levels and 84% of the 2019 traffic numbers. Europe will reach pre-pandemic traffic levels in 2025 also, when traffic will reach 866, million up from 803 million in 2024. European air traffic will experience a compound annual growth rate of circa 6.5% between 2023 and 2026 when traffic will reach 923 million international departures.
International air traffic in South America will reach 106% of the 2022 level to reach 102 million passengers, which is 88% of 2019 traffic which was circa 115 million. In 2024, traffic will fall just short of the pre-pandemic 2019 level in South America at 112 million passengers, growing to 122 million in 2025 and 132 million in 2026, posting a CAGR of circa 7.4%.
Traffic across the African continent will see the least robust growth in 2023, with traffic reaching only 105% of 2022 levels at 62 million, around 86% of the pre-pandemic level. The region will see a CAGR of circa 8% 2023 and 2026, reaching 69 million in 2024, surpassing the 2019 level in 2025 with 76 million and 82 million international passengers in 2026.
