The world's airports – the state of the industry in Jan-2023 in 11 numbers

Earlier in Jan-2023 CAPA published a report summarising the state of the world’s airlines “in 15 numbers”. The airport business does not have quite the same propensity for mathematical evaluation, but the figures below, which are offered “in 11 numbers,” will be of interest all the same.

Perhaps the most impressive numerical statistic is that passengers boarded at the world’s airports in 2022 amounted to 83% of the 2019 figure, despite the ravages of the pandemic.

Things are definitely looking up, but as Stephen Carter, CEO of Informa plc (CAPA’s parent company), said this week, “If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that we should not take anything for granted... the world outside us remains uncertain, economically and geopolitically, causing pressures and strains in many countries and for many communities”.

Note data on cargo airports has been omitted as reliable statistics and sources remain at a premium for 2022/23. A report on that sector will follow. Data on subjective matters such as ‘airport quality’ were also overlooked.