Message from Justin Erbacci, ACI World Director General

Dear members and partners,

As we embrace this new year, we do so with a renewed sense of optimism and a shared commitment to making 2025 even bigger and better for airports and aviation around the world.

Since assuming the role of Director General in September 2024, I’ve had the privilege of engaging in enriching discussions with the ACI World Governing Board, the ACI regions, ACI members, and our valued partners across the aviation ecosystem. These conversations have deepened my belief in the power of collaboration and in the shared vision we have for the future aviation.

ACI World is fully committed to its mission and to continuing to work closely with the ACI regions. We are driven by several key areas:

• We aim to be a passionate advocate for airports worldwide, championing their interests on a global scale;
• As a trusted authority, we provide accurate data and intelligence to inform and empower decision-making;
• Our commitment to innovation positions us as both a visionary thought leader and a catalyst for change to deliver creative solutions to address aviation’s most pressing challenges;
• By offering value-added products and services, we stand as a reliable partner for our stakeholders; and,
• We want to keep nurturing an organization that prioritizes people while maintaining financial sustainability.

ACI World’s strategic direction is crafted to add even more value to and support for our members at a pivotal moment for our industry. After navigating through a period of recovery, we are now entering a phase of substantial growth.

Global passenger traffic is expected to have grown by 10% in 2024, reaching 9.5 billion passengers—104% of 2019 levels. This marks a remarkable recovery and sets the stage for even more significant growth in the coming years. By 2042, global passenger traffic is expected to double 2019 levels, reaching 18.5 billion passengers, and to be 2.5 times the 2019 level by 2052 (23.2 billion passengers).

Our job is to help our airports enable this growth in a safe, secure, and sustainable manner. To achieve this, ACI will focus on supporting airports to:

• Use existing and future capacity more efficiently and sustainably
• Develop and manage new infrastructure to provide safe and sustainable capacity
• Adapt commercially to maintain and improve financial viability, enabling airports to fund capacity increases and operational improvements
• Improve operational efficiency, safety, and the overall passenger experience

This commitment to sustainable growth was further underscored last month when ACI had the honor of participating in the celebration of the 80^th Anniversary of the Chicago Convention. During this event, industry leaders came together to present a joint declaration, reflecting on eight decades of collaboration, progress, and innovation. Our shared commitment to building a sustainable future for aviation resonates with our mission and highlights the collective drive within the industry to address the challenges ahead.

ACI and its members can take pride in the fact that we have advanced safety and security through ICAO’s standards, connected 98 billion passengers globally, driven sustainability efforts to mitigate environmental impacts, and contributed $4.1 trillion to the global economy, while supporting 86.5 million jobs in 2024 (ATAG, Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders).

While we are mindful of the challenges facing the sector, we remain committed to ensuring that aviation continues to be a force for good, and 2025 will be a crucial year in this effort. In collaboration with the ACI regions, ACI World is diligently preparing for the 42nd ICAO Assembly, where we will represent airport interests to 193 Member States and international organizations. This Assembly is pivotal because it will set global aviation policy for the next triennium, guiding the future work of ICAO and its Member States.

ACI World will deliver many other key milestones throughout the year, including advocacy efforts and initiatives related to our programs and services that support airports and the aviation community in navigating through an evolving and complex landscape. I look forward to communicating our achievements to you through ACI World Insights – the only global blog of the airport industry.

On this note and on behalf of our organization, I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2025: one that strengthens our fundamental pillars, that fosters innovation and sustainability, and that increases our positive impact on the world. Together, we will continue to lead the way in transforming airports and aviation globally.