Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Rep The busiest become busier; the year

of the international hub airport

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Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Report: The busiest become
busier; the year of the international hub airport - Sep 09, 2016

Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Report

The busiest become busier; the year of the international hub airport
Montral, 9 September 2016 Airports Council International (ACI) has released the 2015 ACI World
Airport Traffic Report. With comprehensive data coverage for over 2,300 airports in 160 countries worldwide,
ACIs flagship publication remains the authoritative source and industry reference for the latest airport traffic
data, rankings and trends on air transport demand.
ACI continues to deliver an exhaustive review of airport traffic data and analyses in an internationally
comparable format, said Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI World. This provides our members, the
wider aviation and financial community a global view of air transport demand. The airport industry is
incredibly dynamic and having a reliable data source to count on is more important than ever.
Global analysis
Persistence and resilience are two themes that best describe air transport demand in 2015. The large
increase in passenger traffic of 6.4% represents the strongest growth rate since 2010 (6.6%), the year in
which it rebounded from the Great Recession. In fact, despite a slight weakening of economic growth at
3.1% in 2015, growth in passenger traffic approached the pre-recessionary growth levels that were seen in
2004 to 2007. International tourism in particular was irrepressible in 2015, even considering the geopolitical
risks that persisted in certain parts of the world, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East. By and large,
the international traveller appears to have discounted these risks. Air cargo markets were weaker compared
with passenger markets, achieving a modest 2.6% growth in total volumes for 2015. This was the result of
subdued growth in emerging markets and developing economies, coupled with a more modest recovery in
advanced economies.
Worlds busiest airports
While there were 16 airports with over 40 million passengers in 2005, this number has more than doubled
and risen to a total of 37 airports by 2015. Collectively, the club of airports has achieved a growth of 6%
year-over-year in passenger traffic for 2015. This level of growth is unprecedented, particularly since a
majority of the airports in this category are from the typical mature markets of North America and Europe.
After years of consolidation and capacity discipline on the part of US-based airlines, North America has
experienced an important resurgence in air transport demand, particularly at many of its large hubs. Where
physical capacity and infrastructure could accommodate, the so-called mature markets recent upsurge in
traffic are further reminders that higher growth in throughput above historical trends is still possible in these
markets. Both airlines and airport operators have expanded and optimized their capacity in order to
accommodate the demand for air transport. In addition, the widespread entry of low-cost carriers in these
markets has heightened competition, offering affordable options to stimulate air transport demand
irrespective of the uncertainty in global economic conditions.
While this represents an important feat for the worlds busiest airports and the economic vitality of the
regions they serve, the downside of airline capacity shifts towards major connecting hubs in certain markets

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Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Rep The busiest become busier; the year of the international hub airport

12/16/16, 4(48 PM

is that smaller regional airports lose out on traffic with a reduction in nonstop destinations between cities. It
is important to highlight that the reason smaller airports remain in operation hinges on the idea that they
contribute to the local, social and economic development of their surrounding communities. Strategies to
ensure their sustainability are equally important in guaranteeing a well-rounded aviation system, Gittens
added.
Emerging markets
On the back of a growing middle class in key emerging markets, the significant growth of intercontinental
hubs in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East reveals that air transports nucleus continues to move eastward.
Despite the slowing of economic growth in China, its move away from an investment led economy to a
consumption driven economy will further stimulate air transport demand over the long run. India is also
poised to be one of the largest aviation markets in the world in the years to come. The combination of a
move towards a more liberalized aviation market coupled with stronger economic fundamentals has helped to
awaken the Bengal tiger to become one of the fastest growing markets in the world. However, there is
heterogeneous growth across key emerging markets. Adverse macroeconomic conditions and a weakening of
commodities such as oil have left both Brazil and Russia in a recessionary state.
2016 outlook
It is important to maintain cautious optimism as we navigate through 2016, Gittens concluded. There are
several impediments that could curtail the continued rise in demand, which could potentially encumber
growth prospects over the short- and medium-terms. Specifically, these are related to geo-political unrest,
terrorisms and threats to security in certain parts of the world. Physical capacity considerations and potential
bottlenecks in air transport infrastructure also pose challenges in accommodating future air transport
demand. Finally, protectionist policies that retreat from further economic integration and air transport
liberalization could have adverse contractionary effects on the air transport industry. Irrespective of the
challenges that lay ahead, by and large, the evidence of history supports the long run resiliency of the
industry where connecting people, places, cultures and commerce is paramount in the shared mission of the
aviation community.
Key statistics in brief
Passenger traffic
Worldwide airport passenger numbers increased 6.4% in 2015 to almost 7.2 billion, registering
increases in all six regions.
The top spot in the busiest airports list for 2015 continued to belong to Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson
(ATL). Growing 5.5% year-over-year in passenger traffic to the record-breaking total of over 100
million passengers in 2015, Atlanta has benefitted tremendously from its strategic location as a major
connecting hub and port of entry into North America. The airport is within a two-hour flight of 80% of
population in the United States.
Airport traffic in emerging markets and developing economies grew faster (8.1%) than in advanced
economies (5.2%) in 2015, with emerging markets reaching a 44% share of global passenger traffic.
During 2015, the highest number of passengers went through airports in the Asia-Pacific region:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Asia-Pacific (2.46 billion, up 8.6% over 2014)

Europe (1.93 billion, up 5.2% over 2014)
North America (1.72 billion, up 5.3% over 2014)
Latin America-Caribbean (571 million, up 5.3% over 2014)
Middle East (334 million, up 9.6% over 2014)
Africa (180 million, up 0.6% over 2014)
With over 1.5 billion passengers, BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa),
which represent 21.4% of global passenger traffic, achieved a strong growth of 8.2% in passenger
traffic. MINT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) achieved a 5.5% increase for
passenger traffic in 2015.
The worlds top 30 airport cities handled almost one-third of global passenger traffic. London
remained the worlds largest airport system with over 155 million passengers handled at six airports.
New York maintained the second position with 123 million passengers at three airports. Tokyo was
the third city market with 113 million passengers.
The worlds busiest international airports (measured by international passenger traffic):

1.
2.
3.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates DXB (77.5 million, up 10.7% over 2014)
London, United Kingdom LHR (69.8 million, up 2.5% over 2014)
Hong Kong, China HKG (68.1 million, up 8.2% over 2014)
The worlds busiest domestic airports (measured by domestic passenger traffic):

1.
2.
3.

Atlanta GA, USA ATL (90.3 million, up 5.7% over 2014)

Beijing, China (Peoples Republic of China) PEK (71.3 million, up 3.0% over 2014)
Chicago IL, USA ORD (65.9 million, up 11.2% over 2014)

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Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Rep The busiest become busier; the year of the international hub airport

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Air cargo traffic

Worldwide airport cargo increased by 2.6% in 2015 to 106 million metric tonnes, with mixed levels of
growth across all six regions.
Hong Kong (HKG) and Memphis (MEM) took the first and second ranks respectively for the busiest air
cargo airports with 4.5 and 4.3 million metric tonnes in 2015.
Airports in the Asia-Pacific region handled the largest amount of air cargo during 2015:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Asia-Pacific (41.1 million metric tonnes, up 2.3% over 2014)

North America (30 million metric tonnes, up 3.1% over 2014)
Europe (18.9 million metric tonnes, up 0.5% over 2014)
Middle East (8.5 million metric tonnes, up 9.9% over 2014)
Latin America-Caribbean (4.9 million metric tonnes, down 1.3% over 2014)
Africa (2.1 million metric tonnes, up 3.5% over 2014)
The worlds air cargo market is highly concentrated, with the top 30 air cargo hubs[1] handling 58%
of global air cargo volumes. Hong Kong and Memphis remained the busiest airports in terms of air
cargo traffic (4.46 and 4.29 million metric tonnes of cargo respectively). The two Shanghai airports
Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)handle 3.71 million tonnes combined, taking the third position in
the air cargo hubs ranking.
The worlds busiest international airports (measured by international freight traffic):

1.
2.
3.

Hong Kong, China HKG (4.38 million metric tonnes, up 0.1% over 2014)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates DXB (2.51 million metric tonnes, up 3.4% over 2014)
Incheon, Korea (Republic of Korea) ICN (2.49 million metric tonnes, up 0.6% over 2014)
The worlds busiest domestic airports (measured by domestic freight traffic):

1.
2.
3.

Memphis TN, USA MEM (4.1 million metric tonnes, up 1.4% over 2014)
Louisville KY, USA SDF (1.8 million metric tonnes, up 3% over 2014)
Beijing, China (Peoples Republic of China) PEK (1.2 million metric tonnes, up 3.9% over 2014)

Aircraft movements
Worldwide aircraft movements increased by 2% in 2015 to 88.5 million, with mixed levels of growth
across all six regions.
Atlanta (ATL) regained its position and became the busiest airport in terms of aircraft movements,
followed by Chicago (ORD) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).
Airports in the North American region recorded the highest number of movements during 2015:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

North America (30.1 million, up 0.3% over 2014)

Europe (22.8 million, up 1.8% over 2014)
Asia-Pacific (21 million, up 5.8% over 2014)
Latin America-Caribbean (8.9 million, down 0.9% over 2014)
Africa (3 million, down 1.4% over 2014)
Middle East (2.7 million, up 6.9% over 2014)

Notes for editors

1. Airports Council International, the trade association of the worlds airports, was founded in 1991 with the
objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including
the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air
Navigation Services Organisation. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy
development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe,
secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable. To learn more about ACI, please click here.
2. The 2015 ACI World Airport Traffic Report is the most comprehensive source of airport traffic data on the
market. Based on input from over 2,300 commercial airports from 160 countries, data is presented in five
key global traffic categories: total passenger, total cargo, aircraft movements, international passenger and
international freight Rankings by order of busiest airports in each category are provided. The report also
groups results by region, country and airport. To learn more about the 2015 ACI World Airport Traffic Report
or to order, please click here.
3. To learn more about the 2015 ACI World Airport Traffic Dataset, or to order, please click here.
4. ACI produces a full range of publications covering airport policies/standards, monthly and yearly traffic
reports, airport economics and global traffic forecasting. The WATR 2015, and previous editions, can be
purchased on the ACI website at www.aci.aero/Publications.
5. For a PDF of this press release, please click here.

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Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Rep The busiest become busier; the year of the international hub airport

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Media contact
Sabrina Guerrieri
Manager, Communications
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1223
Email: sguerrieri@aci.aero
Supplementary tables

[1] Based on world airport city markets by total air cargo traffic (2015). Several metropolitan areas (e.g.,
Dubai, Shanghai, Tokyo, etc.) are served by two or more airports.
- ENDS -

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Airports Council International releases 2015 World Airport Traffic Rep The busiest become busier; the year of the international hub airport

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