Air connectivity across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East rose 11% in 2025, with major hubs leading growth as airports prepare for rising long-term passenger demand.
Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) reported average connectivity growth of 11% across the two regions in 2025, with Asia-Pacific air connectivity rising 10% and the Middle East increasing 21%.
The findings come from the organisation’s Air Connectivity Index, which covers 315 airports. The index measures network scale and frequency, destination economic weight, connection quality and operational efficiency.
It also considers aircraft type, domestic and international status, the number of stops and airline alliance membership.
Most airports recorded connectivity growth in 2025
Across the 315 airports covered by the index, 74% recorded positive connectivity growth during 2025.
Overall connectivity increased 11%, compared with 14% growth in 2024. ACI APAC & MID said this indicated a move towards a more sustainable growth trajectory.
Major hubs remained among the strongest performers. Between 83% and 97% of these airports recorded growth, supported by airline network expansion and sustained international travel demand.
Chinese airports also strengthened their positions. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport entered the top 10 for total air connectivity.
Hong Kong International Airport also ranked among the 10 most connected airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Dubai remains the region’s most connected airport
Dubai International Airport retained first place in the 2025 connectivity rankings.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport ranked second, followed by Incheon International Airport. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport placed fourth. Hamad International Airport ranked fifth, followed by Singapore Changi Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Tokyo Haneda Airport and Hong Kong International Airport completed the top 10. The greatest improvements came from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, up 32%, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, up 30%, and Hong Kong International Airport, up 28%.
Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said:
“The growth in air connectivity is encouraging. With post-pandemic recovery behind us, 2025 marked a shift from rebuilding capacity to preparing for sustained growth. With passenger volumes across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East projected to reach 11 billion within the next three decades, it is increasingly important that we continue to strengthen connectivity so that aviation can deliver greater choice for passengers and wider economic benefits.”
Emerging gateways improve their connectivity rankings
Several mid-sized airports recorded strong gains during the year.
Among airports handling 15–25 million passengers annually, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Sharjah International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport recorded the greatest improvements.
Growth reflected international network recovery, airline expansion and rising regional demand.
Meanwhile, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City led improvements among airports handling 25–40 million passengers annually.
In the 1–5 million passenger category, Surabaya and Phu Quoc stood out. Da Nang, Medina and Muscat led the 5–15 million passenger group. These airports benefited from strategic route expansion, tourism recovery and regional development.
However, only 51% of airports handling fewer than one million passengers recorded higher connectivity. Airline route rationalisation and the closure of several services contributed to the weaker result.
Asia-Pacific traffic remains heavily intra-regional
Intra-regional flows accounted for 91% of departing passenger traffic across Asia-Pacific. This was up 5% from 2024 and put intra-regional traffic 5% above 2019 levels.
Intercontinental traffic from Asia-Pacific increased 7% year on year. It now stands 12% above pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, Middle East intercontinental traffic rose 9% and reached 27% above 2019 levels.
Traffic from Asia-Pacific to Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, and Africa exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Improved connections through Gulf hubs supported this recovery. North America remained the exception. Traffic between Asia-Pacific and North America was still 9% below 2019 levels.
International city pairs increased by an average of 10% during 2025. That was lower than the 17% rise recorded in 2024. Domestic city pairs returned to growth, increasing 0.8% after declining 1% in 2024.
Hub connectivity continues to favour Dubai
Dubai International Airport also led the region in hub connectivity. Its hub connectivity score was nearly 40% higher than that of its nearest competitor.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport ranked second, followed by Incheon International Airport, Hamad International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The results underline the continuing strength of larger connecting hubs as both Asia-Pacific air connectivity and Middle East networks expand.
Geopolitical pressures affect first-half 2026 performance
Early 2026 data showed a more complex operating environment.
Despite economic pressures linked to conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, as well as changes in US trade policy, direct connectivity in Asia-Pacific remained positive. It increased by 0.5% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025.
The Middle East moved in the opposite direction. Connectivity fell 23% as geopolitical conflict forced airlines to reduce schedules and reroute around affected airspace.
“Despite the macroeconomic challenges, the Asia-Pacific region proved resilient in the first half of 2026, with passenger traffic increasing by approximately 1.6% year on year, though the outlook remains challenging. Boosted by growing international demand and a strong domestic traffic base, we still forecast growth in the medium and long term. As the operating environment evolves, the focus is increasingly on how these efforts can support greater resilience and sustainable growth. This includes making better use of existing capacity, strengthening operational reliability, improving the passenger experience, and investing in new infrastructure and technology.”
“ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East recommends strengthening the policy and regulatory environment that enables connectivity growth, including the revision of existing air service agreements, continued easing of visa requirements, and reforms to enhance the slot allocation framework,” Baronci added.
Airports prepare for long-term passenger growth
ACI APAC & MID said future growth will depend on airport and airspace capacity keeping pace with demand.
Infrastructure investment, policy frameworks and operational resilience will also play an increasing role as passenger volumes expand. The organisation projects passenger volumes across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East will reach 11 billion within the next three decades.
For airports, the next phase of Asia-Pacific air connectivity growth will therefore require greater use of existing capacity, stronger operational reliability and further investment in infrastructure and technology.