The World Ahead Globe Icon
The World Ahead | Travel in 2025

The skies are getting smaller—and more dangerous

Global connectivity is suffering as air transport faces new constraints

Photograph: Getty Images

By Leo Mirani, Asia correspondent, The Economist

Editor’s note (December 27th 2024): an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25th, killing at least 38 of the 67 people on board, was reportedly struck by Russian anti-aircraft fire after being diverted from Grozny in Chechnya.

Explore more

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2025 under the headline “Crowded skies”

More from The World Ahead

Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation

Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation


Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation


The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation

The World Ahead The World Ahead 2025

Ten business trends for 2025, and forecasts for 15 industries

A global round-up from The Economist Intelligence Unit

The World Ahead The year ahead

Calendar 2025

Our selection of events taking place around the world