31 Q UA RT E R _ 0 2 _ 2 0 2 6 - - 3 – C H A RT I N G T H E F U T U R E After a dramatic dip during the pandemic, global aircraft traffic has steadily recovered. By 2053, annual aircraft movements (meaning takeoffs plus land ings) are expected to reach nearly 176 million—about 1.8 times more than in 2024. That means busier airports are on the way. Today’s airport executives are planning for a future in which more planes will need to fit on runways and at gates, and more passengers—including many first-time air travelers—will need to pass through secu rity, bag check, and boarding processes. Global air traffic is projected to rise steadily for the next few decades. Global annual aircraft movements, million Source: Airports Council International Global air traffic is projected to rise steadily for the next few decades. Glol 0 50 100 150 175 125 75 25 Sour SoSo SoSu Souo Sour Souo Sour Souo 1.8× increase