Senior aviation regulators from Thailand, Singapore, and the ASEAN secretariat have called for accelerated reforms in air services, workforce development, and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as the ongoing Middle East conflict causes significant disruptions in regional connectivity. At the 2026 APAC and MID RACE conference in Bangkok, officials discussed how over half of flights at major Middle Eastern gateways have been cancelled, severely impacting the region’s aviation activities and increasing fares substantially.
The disrupted connectivity has led to a reduction of approximately 40% in Asia’s links with the Gulf, while fares from Asia to Europe, Africa, and the Americas have risen sharply. The regulators stressed that reform efforts could unlock economic benefits such as creating 450,000 jobs and bolstering regional GDP by over $4 billion.
Workforce and Infrastructure Challenges
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority highlighted the importance of investing in human capital, noting that pilots and engineers need years of training, which makes workforce development critical for recovery. Singapore’s authorities are actively working to restore flight routes and are deploying autonomous vehicles and AI tools to address workforce constraints, especially given the city’s low fertility rate and limited labor pool.
Opportunities Amid Crisis
ASEAN’s deputy secretary-general emphasized the region’s unexpected resilience, with higher-than-anticipated GDP growth and intra-regional trade expansion. The crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate reforms like the full ratification of the ASEAN air services agreement and liberalization of air cargo, which is vital given the region’s role as a major semiconductor producer.
Officials also anticipate the region’s upcoming digital agreements, including the world’s largest regional digital treaty, will foster deeper economic integration. At the same time, Singapore’s strategy includes implementing a SAF levy to increase biofuel use gradually without compromising affordability, aiming for a 3-5% SAF mix by 2030.
In closing, regulators urged governments to avoid using aviation as a revenue source through unrelated taxes, to safeguard the sector’s social and economic importance and support the long-term recovery and growth of regional aviation.
