Growth in air traffic demand is closely tied to the economy.
Since 1969, air travel has grown an average of 2.7% per year. However, it is
difficult to accurately plan for the future because there are many unknowns and
many different ways to project traffic.
The Port Authority and Federal Aviation Administration each have their own methods. But, in general, air passenger projections are tied to how much income is generated by the residents of the region - the more we earn the more we travel by air. From 1969 to 2008 the region's population grew by 14.6% and personal income rose 108%, resulting in a 143% increase in air trips per capita.
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