Air travel demand will more than double globally by 2050, according to a long-term passenger demand projections report published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on March 18, 2026.

Under the medium growth scenario, demand is projected to reach 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) by 2050. This figure represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% for the period 2024 to 2050, compared to the 9 trillion RPKs recorded in 2024.

Three Growth Scenarios for Air Travel Demand

The report outlines three distinct scenarios. The high growth scenario projects a CAGR of 3.3%, reaching 21.9 trillion RPKs by 2050. The low growth scenario projects a CAGR of 2.9%, with demand reaching 19.5 trillion RPKs by the same year.

These scenarios draw on alternative models for long-term economic growth, population trends, aviation fuel price trajectories, global energy transition patterns, and growth in available air transport capacity.

“The outlook for air travel is positive. People want to travel, and all scenarios in the report point to air travel demand more than doubling by mid-century. This provides positive signals for global economic and social development, given aviation’s role in unlocking opportunities worldwide, including jobs. The report gives governments, industry stakeholders, and energy suppliers a strong foundation for long-term planning. It also underscores the need for supportive policy frameworks covering key success factors such as efficient infrastructure development, market access facilitation, regulatory alignment, and an effective clean energy transition.”

Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA

Regional Outlook: Emerging Markets Lead Growth

The report identifies significant variation in regional growth rates, reflecting differences in demographics, market maturity, economic development, and connectivity potential. Under the medium growth scenario, Asia-Pacific and Africa are projected to be the fastest-growing regions between 2024 and 2050, with CAGRs of 3.8% and 3.6% respectively.

Europe and North America are expected to grow more slowly, at 2.5% and 2.8% respectively. Meanwhile, several Europe-centered markets rank among the slowest-growing globally.

The fastest-growing route markets identified in the report include intra-Africa (4.9%), Africa–Asia-Pacific (4.5%), Asia-Pacific–Middle East (3.9%), intra-Asia-Pacific (3.9%), and Africa–North America (3.8%). These figures highlight the importance of investing in aviation infrastructure and strengthening regulatory frameworks in developing regions.

Long-Term Global Trends

The report identifies two significant long-term trends. First, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a permanent structural shift in global aviation demand. Unlike previous crises, the collapse in RPK volumes created a lasting gap that the sector is not expected to recover from by 2050, even under the high growth scenario, relative to pre-pandemic GDP trajectory levels.

Second, while long-term demand levels remain strong, the growth rate is gradually slowing. Historical analysis shows average annual growth declining from a CAGR of 6.1% between 1972 and 1998, to 4.5% between 1998 and 2024. The baseline scenario for 2024 to 2050 projects a further slowdown to a CAGR of 3.1%. The report notes this gradual deceleration reflects market maturity rather than weakening demand, as total passenger numbers continue to rise substantially.

Methodology and Model Inputs

IATA’s proprietary model draws on a comprehensive global econometric framework, using data from international institutions and the IATA Direct Data Solutions demand database. The dataset compiled for this report includes more than 500,000 observations from approximately 41,000 country pairs over 14 years, from 2011 to 2024.

The model integrates population data, employment figures, trip frequency, and aircraft size at the country level. Real GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power parity, is identified as the most significant demand driver. Long-term economic forecasts for each country are sourced from the OECD’s publicly available long-term global economic scenarios. The model’s forecast accuracy was validated against historical data, achieving an average sector-level prediction accuracy of 98%.