By the year 2030, scheduled passenger traffic around the world is expected to more than double, from 2.7 billion in 2011 to 6 billion annually. Over the next 20 years or so, the number of flights should increase accordingly, from 30 million to 60 million. In addition, as the world economy recovers from the current financial slump, air cargo traffic should follow a similar upward growth trend.

Planners know only too well that two decades do not represent an excessive lead time when considering the billon-dollar infrastructure projects needed to provide the airport and airspace capacity that growth will demand. They consequently require the most comprehensive, up-to-date, relevant and reliable data upon which to base their analyses and decisions. And the sooner the data become available, the better!

This Outlook to the year 2030 effectively responds to those needs with the latest and most expansive forecasts ever produced by ICAO. It is designed to help regulators and the aviation industry respond to the passenger and shipper needs that will likely become more prevalent 20 to 30 years from now.

It also features projections on corresponding aircraft departures as well as passenger and air cargo traffic up to 2040, in order to support initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of aviation on the environment, particularly with regard to climate change.