AIRPORTS in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are poised to undergo extensive development with combined investments of $US240billion (approx. $F548b) between 2025 and 2035.
These investments are dedicated to upgrading existing facilities or brownfield projects and building new airports or greenfield projects between that period.
This capital expenditure revealed by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific and Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) – the trade association representing more than 600 airports from 46 countries and territories – highlights the region’s commitment to meeting the increasing demand for air travel and cargo.
ACI APAC & MID had conducted a comprehensive survey, comprising more than 30 key airports from the region to assess airport development needs, and the findings indicated a strategic focus on both modernisation of the existing airports and development of new airport infrastructure.
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East president SGK Kishore said the $US240b investment was not just about concrete and runways, but about socio-economic development in the region.
He said enhanced passenger experiences would stimulate tourism and business travel, while bolstered cargo capacity would streamline supply chains, driving regional trade and development.
“We are committed to working with our member airports and stakeholders to ensure these investments deliver tangible results to the local and regional economies,” Mr Kishore said in a statement from ACI.
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East director general Stefano Baronci said the investment marked a critical step in transforming sector and delivering and high-quality experience to passengers.
While he said the investment would create additional capacity in the medium-to-long-term, however, added that infrastructure development along could not support the growth to its full potential.
“In today’s increasingly complex economic landscape, we need the continuous support of government to further liberalise air transportation and streamline visa policies across region,” Mr Baronci said.
“These are proven drivers of economic development.”
Fiji Airports has welcomed the announcement saying it came at an appropriate time for Fiji Airports as it embarked on the execution of its Nadi International Airport master plan.
“The Master Plan outlines a strategic roadmap for transforming Nadi International Airport into a world-class, sustainable and customer-focused international airport facility that can meet projected passenger and airline growth in the coming years,” Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari told The Fiji Times.
“As a proud member of the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East region, Fiji Airports sees this as an encouraging signal for the aviation industry’s future,” he said.
Of the US$240b, $US136b will be invested in brownfield development, and will create an additional 680 million passenger capacity and 14 million tonnes of cargo capacity; and $US104b in greenfield development and forecast to add 562m passenger capacity and 57 million tonnes of cargo capacity.
According to ACI, that combined investment would create additional capacity for 1.24 billion passengers – the equivalent of more than 13 airports the size of Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, and 71 million tonnes of cargo capacity, which equals nearly 14 times the cargo throughput of Hong Kong International Airport – the top ranked airport for cargo in the world.
ACI stated by 2053, the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are expected to serve nearly 11 billion passengers, close to a three-fold increase from the 3.9b passengers in 2024.
