ACEC - American Council of Engineering Companies Inc.
11/15/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/15/2024 10:16
Post-Pandemic Travel Surge Demands New Airport Infrastructure
Engineering Inc. magazine
The COVID-19 pandemic caused travel to decrease by 50 percent globally, with the top 10 most impacted cities in the world seeing a decline of 80 percent in road travel. But post-pandemic aviation surged-up 37 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. Flight volume is forecasted to surpass pre-pandemic demand and reach a new all-time high of 40.1 million global flights in 2024.
Considering this return to travel and the spike in projected demand, the need has arisen for airports to review their aging infrastructure. According to the Airports Council International-North America, terminals in the United States are on average almost 50 years old. Aging infrastructure, coupled with new federal investment, means opportunities for engineers. The Airport Infrastructure Grants program allocates $25 billion toward terminal expansions, baggage system upgrades, and runway safety enhancements.
Click here to continue reading this article and other market intelligence news from ACEC.