Global Air Travel to Hit Record 4.99 Billion Passengers

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) projects a record 4.99 billion air travelers in 2025, a 4% increase from 2024, though lower than the earlier 5.22 billion forecast due to trade tensions and declining consumer confidence amid political and economic uncertainty. Airline net profits are expected to rise to US$36 billion in 2025 from US$32.4 billion in 2024, with net profit margins increasing to 3.7% from 3.4%. The Asia-Pacific, the largest and fastest-growing air travel market, will see strong demand due to relaxed visa policies in countries like China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, despite downward revisions in regional GDP forecasts, particularly for China. Falling jet fuel prices, strong employment, and moderating inflation support growth, with 68% of business travelers planning to travel more despite trade tensions, according to an Iata poll.