ACI World airport capacity and regulation advocacy

ACI World has advocated for significant reforms and investments to address global airport capacity challenges. Initially, the organization released a white paper calling for the modernization of the airport slot allocation system, arguing that the current regulatory framework is outdated. Director General Justin Erbacci described the industry as attempting to operate using a ‘1970s operating system’ that prevents competitive fares and resilient networks.

Following these calls for regulatory updates, ACI World expanded its focus to include the need for massive government investment. During a meeting in Lima, the organization stated that the aviation sector may require approximately $4.6 trillion in investment by 2055 to meet projected demand. This demand is driven by forecasts that global airport traffic will reach 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, with significant growth expected in Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.

At the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly in Lima, leadership reinforced these calls for reform. Justin Erbacci urged governments to treat airport capacity as a ‘national economic priority,’ emphasizing that capacity creation must involve optimizing existing infrastructure and establishing stable regulations to facilitate financing for expansions.

Focusing on the Latin American region, ACI-LAC Director Rafael Echevarne advocated for the total deregulation of airspace, proposing a model similar to Europe. Echevarne argued that allowing airlines to operate across borders without requiring individual government permissions for every route would increase connectivity, passenger choice, and competitiveness while lowering prices.