ACI’s report reviews 2023 global airport trends

The Airport Council International (ACI) has released its 2024 review of operating conditions in 2023 in the air cargo sector. It revealed that after a strong performance in 2021, the air cargo sector encountered multiple economic and geopolitical challenges in 2022. Factors such as inflation, the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s zero COVID-19 policy and ongoing supply chain disruptions collectively decreased demand.

Many of these challenges persisted into 2023. Alongside a general rise in trade-restrictive measures, global cargo, measured in metric tonnes, declined 1.8% year over year in 2023.

The year began with air cargo traffic at its lowest point since the first quarter of 2020. The air cargo industry faced a significant stress test in 2023 as plummeting market demand and rates decreased revenues. This downturn forced many all-cargo carriers to scale back operations, postpone aircraft investments and tighten budgets. This course correction began in early …