Foreword

As we come towards the end of another year, it is clear that the key trends in civil aviation post-pandemic continue from strength to strength.

According to IATA, Global passenger traffic in 2024 reached approximately 9.5 billion passengers, almost matching 2019 levels, and the figures for 2025 will no doubt show more growth. This recovery indicates that demand for air travel remains robust in both the leisure and business segments.

Despite the halt in global air travel being something of a distant memory five years on, it undoubtedly acted as an accelerant in many areas, whether they be operational, environmental, or passenger-focused. 
 
Perhaps the biggest topic in civil aviation this year, as in previous years, is curbing the industry’s environmental impact. Motivated by passenger expectations, industry targets, and rising costs of carbon-based fuels, the topline here is that investing in future fuels is a priority.  

Both the EU and UK have introduced SAF mandates, with targets increasing over time to hit 70% by 2050 in the EU and 22% by 2040 in the UK. There is a huge ongoing investment, from both public and private sources, to not just develop new sustainable fuels but to build the infrastructure required to implement them effectively. We will no doubt see the same looking ahead into 2026.

Airport operations are also evolving through smart platforms and the use of AI tools. Mobile bookings, biometrics, and faster check-ins, either online or through apps, have all become the norm today. In the coming year, we can expect more of the same, as airports adopt smart platforms in order to manage passenger flow from curb to gate, implement more biometric options to expedite security, and embrace unified platforms to consolidate airport operations into a unified monitoring view.

This past year, we’ve also witnessed a real hunger to implement UAM and eVTOL infrastructure. Whether it be breaking records for flight range or flight altitude (both awards going to Archer Aviation), or civil aviation authorities implementing the frameworks for these types of operations, these compact aircraft might not be prevalent in the skies in the next 12 months, but efforts to do so will surely continue.

To help you navigate these growing areas, Airport Industry Review will be providing sector-leading content to those with a need to know. Thank you for your continued engagement with the team here, which is forever endeavouring to be your trusted source for authoritative civil aviation and airport management insight.