Global airport capacity shortage seen by 2020 - ACI
SINGAPORE (XFNews) - Global passenger traffic is seen growing 4 pct annually from 2005 through 2020 while air freight tonnage is projected to increase by 5.4 pct annually, indicating a possible shortage in airport capacity by 2020, according to forecasts made by the Airports Council International (ACI).
ACI, an international association of the worlds' airports, also forecasts that over 7.4 bln passengers will travel by air in 2020.
"Taking into account airport and airspace capacity issues, the results of this reality-based method show that by 2020 passenger demand would surpass available airport infrastructure by about 1 bln passengers, resulting in heavy congestion and a general deterioration in the quality of service at airports," it said.
ACI said the worldwide forecasts are based on data collected in early 2005 from 273 ACI member airports, representing 60 pct of global passenger traffic.