Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira spoke with AeroTime on the sidelines of the World Aviation Festival following the presentation of the latest global passenger traffic figures for 2023 and the outlook for 2024.

The main takeaway is that the air travel industry is about to leave behind the dramatic shock that represented the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report published by ACI on September 27, 2023, revealed that global passenger traffic is expected to reach 8.6 billion passengers, equivalent to 94.2% of the 2019 levels by the end of 2023. This figure is projected to increase to 9.4 billion in 2024, surpassing 2019 traffic levels.

ACI estimates that aviation will double in size by 2041. However, to reach this growth, there are a number of challenges that the industry faces. “First one, of course, is the sustainable aspects of the industry,” de Oliveira told AeroTime. “How will we finance these investments in terms of capacity, sustainability, sustainable aviation fuels, and, of course, innovation? These are the main issues we face in the future.”

ACI is a global organization of airports, representing approximately 2,000 members worldwide, which accounts for roughly 95% of global air traffic. The organization’s primary focus is to collaborate with ICAO and other international organizations to enhance the air transport system.