Airports Council International World has recorded a new high for global airport traffic, with 9.8 billion passengers handled in 2025 across 2,817 commercial airports. The total rose 3.7% from 2024, driven by a 6.1% increase in international traffic and a 1.7% rise in domestic travel.
The latest figures also point to a softer start to 2026. Global passenger traffic reached about 4.7 billion in the first half of the year, up just 0.6% year on year as geopolitical tensions, airspace disruptions and higher costs weighed on demand. The Middle East was the weakest region, with traffic down 21% amid regional instability and disruption to flight paths.
The data underline an aviation market that continues to set records after the pandemic recovery, but with uneven momentum across regions and a more cautious outlook for the rest of 2026. International travel remains the main growth engine, while domestic markets are expanding more slowly and regional shocks are having a larger impact on airport demand.