By 2014, there will be 3.3 billion people and 38 million tons of cargo traveling by airplane, predicts the International Air Transport Association, up from 2.5 billion people and 26 million tons of cargo in 2009.
Of the 800 million new air travelers, 45 percent are expected to come from China, which will be the biggest contributor to growth – although this will still not be enough to surpass the U.S. as the largest single-country market. By 2014, the U.S. will be servicing 671 million domestic and 215 million international flights.
“This creates enormous opportunities but also presents some challenges… To realize the economic growth potential that this will bring, we will need even more efficient air traffic management, airport facilities and security programs,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
According to the IATA’s forecasts, the five biggest international markets will include the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain and France, while domestic markets will be topped by the U.S. China, Japan, Brazil and India. Similarly, the largest freight markets will be the U.S., Hong Kong, Germany, Japan and China.
"The focus of the industry continues to shift eastward. By 2014, 1 billion people will travel by air in Asia Pacific. That’s 30 percent of the global total and a 4 percentage point increase from the 26 percent it represented in 2009. The same is true for cargo where Asia Pacific will account for 28 percent of global volumes," noted Bisignani.