Airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions are preparing for an exponential growth in air travel, with projections indicating an annual growth of nearly 7% over the next 25 years.
To proactively address this surge and ensure sustainable long-term development, the 2nd ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly of Airport Members, held recently in New Delhi, passed a resolution to promote the optimisation of existing capacity and the development of new infrastructure both on the ground and in the skies.
Recognising the vital role of airports in driving socio-economic development, the resolution reaffirms their commitment to expanding and enhancing infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Together, these regions account for 58% of the global aviation market, and host 9 of the world’s 10 fastest-growing aviation markets.
The resolution acknowledges the need for decarbonisation, infrastructure expansion, airport operational control, congestion mitigation, forward-looking regulations, diverse financing, light-handed oversight, and advanced air traffic management.
Key resolutions adopted include:
- Commitment to more efficient use of airport infrastructure: Modernising airport slot allocation systems to suit the evolving market realities
- Advancement of air traffic management and A-CDM: Promoting industry-wide adoption of A-CDM and enhanced cross-border ATFM to improve coordination, reduce congestion, and minimize CO2 emissions.
- Commitment to infrastructure growth: Support the expansion and development of new airport infrastructure, including runways, terminals, and digital technologies.
- Promotion of financing and investment: Encouraging diverse financing models like PPPs and institutional investment to ensure long-term sustainability of airport development projects.
- Light-handed oversight conducive to modernisation of the service: Urging governments to adopt policy frameworks that facilitate investment and balance commercial interests with consumer benefits.
- Integration of Sustainability and Innovation: Emphasising the integration of environmental sustainability, digitalisation, and smart technology in airport projects, including climate resilience, SAF availability, and green energy development.
- Engagement with stakeholders: Calling for enhanced collaboration between airports, airlines, and other stakeholders.
- Global alignment and best practices: Committing to engaging with global aviation stakeholders to advocate for best practices.
Supporting the resolution, Mr. SGK Kishore, President of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said: “I am greatly pleased by our members’ commitment to infrastructure development. The region’s position as the primary driver of global air travel growth makes investment in modern, efficient, and sustainable airport infrastructure not just prudent but absolutely critical. Airports are drivers of socio-economic development, and they must be equipped to handle demand while maintaining long-term financial stability. However, infrastructure alone is insufficient—we also require a conducive regulatory environment, diverse financing models, a culture of innovation, and an efficient slot management system that reflects current market dynamics.”
Commenting on the resolution, Mr. Stefano Baronci, Director General, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said: “Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions need significant investment to sustain a high rate of growth. A holistic approach is the need of the hour. This entails not only investment in physical airport infrastructure but also modernisation of air traffic management and a fundamental overhaul of the outdated slot management guidelines. This is essential to ensure the region can sustain its high growth trajectory while maximising efficiency and minimising environmental impact.”
