Publish Time: 2026-04-15 Origin: Site
In its newly released Airport Economics Report and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Airports Council International (ACI) World revealed that global airports handled 9.4 billion passengers in 2024, marking a 4% increase compared with pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Despite the strong rebound in passenger traffic, airport revenue recovery has failed to keep pace. Global airport revenue totalled $194.9 billion in 2024, a 2.1% shortfall in real terms against 2019 figures. ACI World noted this gap highlights the critical need for financially resilient airport operations and supportive regulatory policies. Such frameworks are essential to unlock necessary investments for maintaining global air connectivity, enhancing operational efficiency, and financing infrastructure development to support long-term passenger growth and broader economic expansion.
The report further breaks down revenue streams:
Aeronautical revenues, making up 54% of total income, remained 3% below 2019 levels, with a full recovery forecast for 2025.
Non-aeronautical revenues, accounting for 37% of total revenue, were 9% lower than pre-pandemic figures and are not expected to recover until mid-2026.
In terms of financial performance, the global airport sector’s return on invested capital (ROIC) climbed to 6.3% in 2024, yet still fell short of the industry’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). This indicates ongoing financial strain across the airport business.
ACI World projects that overall airport revenues will surpass pre-pandemic levels starting in 2026 and grow in tandem with passenger demand. However, the organisation cautioned that the speed of recovery hinges on multiple factors, including financing conditions, inflationary pressures, regulatory environments, as well as wider geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World, commented: “With global air travel demand poised for robust growth in the decades ahead, policymakers must back regulatory frameworks that enable airports to boost financial resilience and invest in the infrastructure critical to preserving connectivity and driving economic growth.”