Global aviation resilient in Q1 despite regional turbulence

The global aviation industry demonstrated resilience in the first quarter of 2026, with passenger traffic increasing by 2.8% to reach 2.2 billion travellers, according to the ACI World Airport Industry Report Q1 2026. This growth was not only above last year's levels but also marked a 6.4% increase compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark of 2019.

Africa and Asia Pacific led the growth, registering gains of 8.4% and 4.9% respectively, while Europe and the Latin America and Caribbean regions each saw a 4.3% increase. North America experienced minimal growth, with a 0.5% rise, while the Middle East faced a sharp decline of 13% due to regional disruptions affecting demand.

International passenger traffic continued to outperform domestic markets, with international demand growing by 2.8% in the quarter, compared to 2.7% for domestic markets. Cargo volumes also remained robust, increasing by 2.7%, and aircraft movements expanded by 1.2%, highlighting the breadth of recovery across various aviation segments.

Among the world's busiest airports, Atlanta topped the list for passenger traffic, handling 24.1 million passengers in the quarter. Tokyo Haneda and Guangzhou and Shanghai followed, with 22.9 million and 23.2 million passengers respectively, reflecting China's strong rebound. Chicago O'Hare led in aircraft movements with over 206,000 takeoffs and landings, while Hong Kong retained its cargo market position, processing 1.21 million tonnes.

Despite this resilience, leading indicators suggest softer demand ahead. Advanced bookings for the second quarter fell by 13.4%, with the steepest declines observed in the Middle East markets. Global seat capacity is expected to contract slightly by 0.8% in Q2, driven by reductions in the Middle East. The full-year forecast has been revised downward to 10 billion passengers, down from the previous projection of 10.2 billion, resulting in an expected annual growth rate of 2.7% instead of the previously anticipated 3.0%.