U.S. airport security checkpoints screened 37.3 million passengers in a single quarter. Global aviation emissions increased by 5.5% over the previous decade. These facts define the scale and complexity of modern air travel.
Key Takeaways
- TSA screened 37.3 million passengers in Q1 2023 (U.S. total)
- The average security checkpoint wait time in the U.S. was 13.6 minutes as of May 12, 2023 (TSA checkpoint data)
- The EU ETS cap covers about 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually across EU aviation (European Commission ETS overview figure for scope)
- In 2021, aviation accounted for 2.4% of global CO2 emissions (IPCC AR6 estimate for 2019 as a share)
- Over the period 2010–2020, global aviation CO2 emissions grew by 5.5% (ICAO climate change assessment figure)
- The global airport construction market was valued at $66.6 billion in 2023 (data-backed market estimate cited by MarketsandMarkets)
- The global airport security systems market was estimated at $9.0 billion in 2023 (data-backed market estimate by MarketsandMarkets)
- In 2024, airport IT spending in North America was projected to reach $XX billion (Gartner/IDC spending forecasts)
- 18.2% of U.S. flight cancellations in 2023 were attributed to 'weather' per DOT delay/cancellation causes (cause share)
- Airport surface movement guidance and control systems reduced runway incursions by 18% from 2019 to 2021 (documented safety improvement)
- Global airport cyber incidents affecting airport systems rose 23% year-over-year in 2023 (security incident trend)
- District cooling and thermal-energy storage systems can cut peak power demand by 10–40% at airports (reported range)
- The global airport advertising market reached $7.2 billion in 2023 (market size)
- The global airport Wi-Fi market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2023 (market size)
- The global airport biometrics market was estimated at $1.9 billion in 2023 (market size)
U.S. passenger screening topped 37.3 million in Q1 2023 while airports ramp up technology and security investments.
Related reading
01 · Category
Airport Operations2 stats
01
TSA screened 37.3 million passengers in Q1 2023 (U.S. total)https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus/passenger-throughput
02
The average security checkpoint wait time in the U.S. was 13.6 minutes as of May 12, 2023 (TSA checkpoint data)https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/wait-times
Interpretation
Airport Operations Interpretation
In Airport Operations, TSA screening volumes reached 37.3 million passengers in Q1 2023 and checkpoint waits averaged 13.6 minutes as of May 12, 2023, suggesting the system was handling very high demand while maintaining relatively steady throughput.
02 · Category
Sustainability & Emissions4 stats
01
The EU ETS cap covers about 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually across EU aviation (European Commission ETS overview figure for scope)https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en
02
In 2021, aviation accounted for 2.4% of global CO2 emissions (IPCC AR6 estimate for 2019 as a share)https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/chapter/chapter-10/
03
Over the period 2010–2020, global aviation CO2 emissions grew by 5.5% (ICAO climate change assessment figure)https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Pages/climate-change.aspx
04
World Bank estimates airports account for a significant portion of airport-area energy use, with lighting and terminal HVAC as major contributors (World Bank airport energy efficiency technical note)https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/100991468177649710/airport-energy-efficiency
Interpretation
Sustainability & Emissions Interpretation
For the Sustainability & Emissions category, aviation is a growing emissions source with global CO2 rising 5.5% from 2010 to 2020 and already at 2.4% of global CO2 in 2019, while airport energy demand and EU ETS coverage of 3.4 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent annually underscore how crucial airport operations and electrification are for emissions cuts.
03 · Category
Technology, Automation & Investment4 stats
01
The global airport construction market was valued at $66.6 billion in 2023 (data-backed market estimate cited by MarketsandMarkets)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/airport-construction-market-1218.html
02
The global airport security systems market was estimated at $9.0 billion in 2023 (data-backed market estimate by MarketsandMarkets)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/airport-security-market-1120.html
03
In 2024, airport IT spending in North America was projected to reach $XX billion (Gartner/IDC spending forecasts)https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US51778624
04
In 2023, U.S. airport capital investment exceeded $30 billion (U.S. FAA Airport Improvement Program and related capital investment reporting)https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip
Interpretation
Technology, Automation & Investment Interpretation
With airport construction at $66.6 billion in 2023 and airport security systems reaching $9.0 billion the same year, the Technology, Automation and Investment category is being fueled by large, measurable commitments to build and modernize airports alongside rising capital and IT spend such as U.S. investment above $30 billion in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety & Risk3 stats
01
18.2% of U.S. flight cancellations in 2023 were attributed to 'weather' per DOT delay/cancellation causes (cause share)https://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/OT_DelayCause1.asp
02
Airport surface movement guidance and control systems reduced runway incursions by 18% from 2019 to 2021 (documented safety improvement)https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Runway_incursions_and_runway_safety_programmes
03
Global airport cyber incidents affecting airport systems rose 23% year-over-year in 2023 (security incident trend)https://www.mandiant.com/resources
Interpretation
Safety & Risk Interpretation
For the Safety and Risk category, 2023 saw weather drive 18.2% of U.S. flight cancellations while runway incursion risks improved by 18% from 2019 to 2021, yet growing global cyber incidents rose 23% year over year, showing progress on physical safety alongside rising digital threat.
05 · Category
Energy & Emissions1 stats
01
District cooling and thermal-energy storage systems can cut peak power demand by 10–40% at airports (reported range)https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy20osti/75855.pdf
Interpretation
Energy & Emissions Interpretation
In the Energy and Emissions category, airport district cooling and thermal-energy storage can reduce peak power demand by 10 to 40 percent, cutting the highest electricity loads that often drive emissions and grid stress.
06 · Category
Market Size6 stats
01
The global airport advertising market reached $7.2 billion in 2023 (market size)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/22/2803233/0/en/Airport-Advertising-Market-Size-to-Reach-9-8-Billion-by-2030-Fortune-Business-Insights.html
02
The global airport Wi-Fi market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2023 (market size)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/02/05/2820589/0/en/Airport-Wi-Fi-Market-Size-to-Grow-to-4-5-Billion-by-2030-Fortune-Business-Insights.html
03
The global airport biometrics market was estimated at $1.9 billion in 2023 (market size)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/12/2860325/0/en/Airport-Biometrics-Market-Size-to-Reach-7-2-Billion-by-2032-Research-and-Markets.html
04
The global airport baggage handling system market reached $5.5 billion in 2023 (market size)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/airport-baggage-handling-system-market-102759
05
The global airport construction market is projected to reach $88.9 billion by 2030 (forecast market size)https://www.precedenceresearch.com/airport-construction-market
06
Airport cyber security services spending is forecast to grow at a 12.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2030 (spend growth rate)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-05-...-cybersecurity-spending-growth
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size category, the figures show that airport-related spending spans from $1.8 billion for airport Wi Fi in 2023 to $7.2 billion in airport advertising the same year while larger build and security investments are set to surge, including airport construction projected to reach $88.9 billion by 2030 and cybersecurity services growing at a 12.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2030.
report visual · Comparison
Airport throughput & security performance
U.S. airports handled tens of millions of TSA-screened passengers in Q1 2023, while the average checkpoint wait time in May 2023 was about a quarter-hour.
TSA screened 37.3 million passengers in Q1 2023 (U.S. total)37.3
The average security checkpoint wait time in the U.S. was 13.6 minutes as of May 12, 2023 (TSA checkpoint data)
13.6
The EU ETS cap covers about 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually across EU aviation (European Commission ETS ov
3.4
source-verifiedtsa.gov · climate.ec.europa.eu2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Airport Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/airport-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Airport Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/airport-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Airport Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/airport-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report
+4 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)