Aviation plays a key role in Australia’s transport system, providing regular scheduled services between Australia's highly dispersed major population centres and vital connectivity for rural and remote communities. As a large island nation, located significant distances from our nearest neighbours, aviation is also the primary means of access for international visitors and for domestic residents travelling overseas.

This report presents long-term forecasts of Australian commercial air passenger and freight activity, and forecasts of air passenger numbers through Australia’s 14 busiest airports / air catchments – i.e. Australia’s eight capital cities and six busiest non-capital city airports – and air freight volumes through Australia’s mainland state capital city airports. The forecasts are based on econometric models of Australian domestic and international air passenger and air freight demand, and the most recent long-term economic outlooks for Australia and developed and major developing countries. The forecasts are intended to help inform long-term Australian aviation policy development and planning.