Routes to, from and within the Asia Pacific region will see an additional 1.8 billion annual passengers in the next 20 years, according to a new forecast from the International Air Transport Association.

The growth will increase the region’s traffic by more than 160 per cent between now and 2034, for an overall market size of 2.9 billion per year. The area’s average annual growth rate will be 4.9 per cent, the joint-highest in the world with the Middle East.

Growth will contribute to a projected doubling on global air traffic by 2034, to 7 billion passengers per year, 42 per cent of which will be on Asia Pacific routes.

The five fastest-growing markets in terms of additional passenger numbers over the next 20 years will be China, with 758 million new passengers for a total of 1.196 billion; the United States, with 523 million new passengers for a total of 1.156 billion; India, with 275 million new passengers for a total of 378 million; Indonesia, with 132 million new passengers for a total of 219 million; and Brazil, with 104 million new passengers for a total of 202 million.

“The demand for air transport continues to grow. There is much work to be done to prepare for the 7 billion passengers expected to take the skies in 2034,” said Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA.

“Economic and political events over the last year have impacted some of the fundamentals for growth. As a result, we expect some 400 million fewer people to be traveling in 2034 than we did at this time last year,” said Tyler.

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