Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) has released its latest short-term forecast, projecting robust growth in passenger traffic and air cargo volumes across the regions. Between 2025 and 2028, passenger traffic is expected to grow by approximately 4.8% annually in Asia-Pacific and 5.4% in the Middle East. This positive outlook is driven by ongoing economic recovery, increasing airport capacities, and continued investments in infrastructure. Notably, India and Vietnam are leading Asia-Pacific's passenger surge, while major Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi are expanding capacity to accommodate rising demand.
The forecast emphasizes the importance of airport expansions and modernization efforts, alongside strategic development of new routes. Air cargo performance also demonstrates healthy growth, with Asia-Pacific forecasted to grow at 4.3% CAGR and the Middle East at 3.3%, bolstered by increased manufacturing, e-commerce expansion, and strategic geographic positioning. Despite geopolitical and trade uncertainties, the regions are expected to maintain their leadership in global aviation, with extensive infrastructure investments anticipated to support long-term growth and resilience.
"The outlook affirms the regions' critical role as economic and logistics hubs," said Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East. "Continued efforts in infrastructure development, liberalization of air transport policies, and advancements in logistics will be vital to sustain this growth trajectory, ensuring the regions remain vital to global aviation and trade networks."
