While the aviation sector first faced doom and gloom following the outbreak of the pandemic, the European market has already been showing signs of recovery. This growth is likely to continue, resulting in a 44% increase in annual flights by 2050.
By 2050, a minimum of 13.2 million European flights are expected. In the meanwhile, the greatest estimate is 19.6 million. With the figure being so close to that of 2019, it's improbable that it will be in the lower 13.2 million range.
If the high-end scenario of 19.6 million annual travellers is satisfied, activity will grow by 76%. This aspect would put a lot of pressure on the industry, as companies like Boeing and Airbus have already said that they would need tens of thousands more planes over the next few decades.
A 44% increase would result in an average of 43,700 daily flights, an increase of 13,400 per day over 2019. As a result, environmentalists will be concerned about the growth's long-term viability.