The power of vision

Just four or five years ago, it seemed that air transport was destined to slow down its growth, to reduce the intensity of flows, and to give up its central role in the system of passenger and goods mobility — as if there were viable alternatives for long-distance travel. The questioning of globalization, along with the major issue of climate change, appeared to be putting significant brakes on the entire aviation sector. As a result, many investments were suspended or postponed — on a scale never seen before — and perhaps even more seriously, plans and projects for future infrastructure and service development were delayed. At times, this led to a dangerously shortened long-term vision, driven solely by uncertainty. Fortunately, not everywhere — and where this didn’t happen, the difference is now visible.

Traffic, as noted in the Overview, has resumed its growth — in some market segments even exceeding the most optimistic forecasts. Many of the issues once seen as obstacles to growth now appear less significant or have been resolved, at least in terms of communication, if not substantively. Airports and regions that invested during the Covid years are now benefiting from the current growth phase and are able to offer higher levels of service.

Regarding sustainability, the industry seems to have reached reasonable and lasting agreements, with a clear agenda and promising, already measurable results in decarbonization. There are also more effective regulations and heightened awareness about the impact of noise and infrastructure on the landscape. There’s still much to be done, but extraordinary progress has been made over the past decade, demonstrating the commitment of the entire air transport chain.

The costs of moving passengers and goods quickly over long distances still seem manageable for various sectors of the economy and for household budgets. But most importantly, people continue to want to travel between continents — and increasingly so. Cities and regions across the globe are demanding more direct air access and wider connectivity.

And we want to believe that today’s burning geopolitical and geoeconomic issues are, once again, temporary detours — however long — from the path of progress and improved global living conditions. Nothing separates countries, populations, and economies like closed airspace. The fact that it is war causing these closures, and that the extent of no-fly zones is expanding as we write, torments us and compels us to make every effort for peace.

Rising demand and unprecedented challenges — well documented in the pages of this issue of DomusAir, from environmental and architectural to technological — now require a massive effort in planning and designing the airports of the future, the systems connecting them to surrounding areas, and the very cities that host them. Not just a quantitative effort, but above all a paradigm shift.

Moving beyond reactive responses to traffic demands — typically through volumetric expansions or specialized new infrastructures — towards more forward-looking systems that integrate mobility-related functions with other urban roles, benefiting from better territorial connections, digital networks, and energy optimization. Let us not waste the opportunity that comes from the only positive aspect of the suspension or delay of investments: the need to rapidly update or completely rethink outdated projects. We must take full advantage of the technical capabilities available today, the most advanced tools, and the benefits of interdisciplinary integration to create modern and ambitious projects. That’s why we continue to highlight virtuous approaches and models — presenting in the pages of this magazine the voices and works that represent the most advanced responses to rising traffic demand. With attention to the environment, to the landscape, to the nature of places, and to the needs of people.