The Skyward Surge: Global Aviation Growth, Employment Trends & India's Rising Role (ICC blog # 97)
- Dr Sp Mishra
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Global air passenger traffic experienced a remarkable surge in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and reaching 104% of 2019 figures. Passenger demand grew by 10.4% compared to 2023, with international travel seeing a stronger rise of 13.6%, while domestic travel expanded by 5.7%. As a result, the total number of air travellers hit 9.5 billion, with projections indicating further growth to 9.9 billion in 2025. This resurgence highlights the aviation sector’s strong recovery, fuelled by increased connectivity, relaxed travel restrictions, and heightened demand for air travel worldwide.
Air freight movement also saw notable expansion, with global cargo demand rising by 11.3%, surpassing previous records. The total freight volume reached 275 billion tonne-kilometres, marking a new industry milestone. The Asia-Pacific region led the way, with intra-Asia cargo traffic growing by 11%, followed by Europe-Asia trade routes at 10.3%. While cargo capacity expanded at a rate of 7.4%, the rise of belly-hold cargo in passenger aircraft contributed significantly, growing by 6.5%. This underscores the critical role air cargo continues to play in global supply chains, responding to economic shifts and increased demand for expedited goods transport.
Despite strong growth, challenges remain, particularly in supply chain constraints and sustainability efforts. The backlog of 17,000 aircraft points to production delays, while sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, though expected to double to 2 million tonnes, will only account for 0.7% of aviation’s total fuel needs. Geopolitical uncertainties, airspace restrictions, and rising operational costs add pressure on airlines, making efficiency and innovation crucial for future stability. India’s aviation sector continues to play a growing role, with its passenger traffic expected to double by 2030, making it a focal point of global aviation discussions, including hosting the IATA AGM for the first time in 42 years.
The aviation industry remains a powerful force for global employment, directly supporting 11.3 million jobs in 2024 across various sectors such as pilots, ground crew, cabin attendants, and airport management. Beyond these roles, 67 million additional jobs are linked to aviation through tourism, aircraft manufacturing, and logistics, contributing an estimated $3.5 trillion to the world economy. As air travel demand continues to grow, projections indicate that direct aviation employment will increase to 13.5 million by 2030, with indirect employment expanding to 75 million. The industry's total economic contribution is expected to rise to $4.2 trillion, fuelled by fleet expansion, increasing passenger numbers, and growing connectivity worldwide. Aviation remains a critical driver of economic development, offering vast opportunities for skilled professionals in engineering, operations, customer service, and technological innovation.
Here are the pending number of orders by country and by airline.
Country | Airline | Quantity | Make | Likely Delivery Year(s) |
India | IndiGo | 1,030 | Airbus A320neo family, Airbus A350-900 | 2025-2035 |
China | Various Airlines | 500 | Airbus A320neo, A330neo, A350 | 2025-2032 |
India | Air India | 470 | Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 777X | 2025-2030 |
India | Akasa Air | 150 | Boeing 737 MAX-8, MAX-10 | 2025-2030 |
China | China Southern Airlines | 100 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
United States | Southwest Airlines | 100 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2030 |
China | China Eastern Airlines | 80 | Airbus A321neo | 2025-2027 |
United States | United Airlines | 60 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2029 |
Australia | Qantas Airways | 50 | Airbus A321XLR, Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2030 |
Turkey | Turkish Airlines | 50 | Airbus A321XLR | 2025-2030 |
United States | American Airlines | 50 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
Germany | Lufthansa | 40 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2029 |
South Korea | Korean Air | 33 | Airbus A350-1000 | 2025-2030 |
Brazil | LATAM Airlines | 30 | Airbus A321neo | 2025-2028 |
Canada | Air Canada | 30 | Airbus A220-300 | 2025-2027 |
France | Air France | 30 | Airbus A350-1000 | 2025-2027 |
Japan | All Nippon Airways (ANA) | 30 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2029 |
Australia | Virgin Australia | 25 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
Canada | WestJet | 25 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
Mexico | Aeroméxico | 25 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
Singapore | Singapore Airlines | 25 | Airbus A350-1000 | 2025-2028 |
United Kingdom | British Airways | 25 | Airbus A320neo | 2025-2028 |
Japan | Japan Airlines (JAL) | 21 | Airbus A350-900 | 2025-2028 |
Colombia | Avianca | 20 | Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2029 |
Malaysia | Malaysia Airlines | 20 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2027 |
New Zealand | Air New Zealand | 20 | Airbus A320neo, Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 2025-2029 |
Russia | Aeroflot | 20 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2028 |
United States | Delta Air Lines | 20 | Airbus A350-1000 | 2025-2027 |
Brazil | Azul Brazilian Airlines | 15 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2027 |
Indonesia | Garuda Indonesia | 15 | Boeing 737 MAX | 2025-2027 |
Thailand | Thai Airways | 15 | Airbus A321XLR | 2025-2028 |
Chile | Sky Airline | 12 | Airbus A321XLR | 2025-2027 |
Philippines | Philippine Airlines | 12 | Airbus A350-1000 | 2025-2027 |
Argentina | Aerolíneas Argentinas | 10 | Airbus A320neo | 2025-2026 |
Fiji | Fiji Airways | 10 | Airbus A350-900 | 2025-2028 |
Japan | Japan Airlines (JAL) | 10 | Boeing 787-9 | 2025-2028 |
Kazakhstan | Air Astana | 10 | Airbus A220-300 | 2025-2027 |
South Korea | Korean Air | 6 | Airbus A350-900 | 2025-2030 |
Papua New Guinea | Air Niugini | 4 | Airbus A220-100 | 2025-2027 |
(The above data has been compiled from the available public data. The total pending orders are far bigger, but some of them are not disclosed in the public domain.)
India’s aviation sector is on a rapid growth trajectory, set to become one of the world's largest markets by 2030. With an expanding fleet and increasing passenger volumes, new job opportunities will emerge across various domains. Key roles will include commercial pilots, air traffic controllers, and aerospace engineers, as airlines modernise their fleets and introduce new-generation aircraft. Additionally, airport infrastructure development will drive demand for ground operations specialists, airline customer service experts, and airport security professionals.
Beyond traditional aviation careers, India’s push for sustainable aviation and technological advancements will create jobs in aircraft maintenance, AI-powered flight operations, and green aviation solutions. The rise of regional connectivity under initiatives like UDAN will also spur growth in regional airline management and flight scheduling specialists. Furthermore, the expanding cargo and logistics sector will need supply chain analysts, freight operations managers, and e-commerce logistics strategists to support the increasing demand for air freight services.
This evolving aviation ecosystem promises a dynamic and rewarding future for Indian professionals, blending traditional airline careers with cutting-edge roles in innovation, technology, and sustainability. With India set to play a pivotal role in global aviation, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.
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