In 2025, air connectivity in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific grew rapidly with airports around the globe increasing capacity to meet a surge in travel demand. The Middle East saw a 21% growth in connectivity. Asia-Pacific also experienced a 10% growth in connectivity. According to latest Air Connectivity Index from Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), networks of airports are growing around the world. The data suggests that global air travel is changing and Gulf Hubs and Asian Gateways as well as other regional airports are growing as important connections to travelers across the globe.
The aviation industry across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East continued its upward movement in 2025, with overall air connectivity rising by 11 percent across the two regions. The increase reflects a steady recovery in international travel, wider airline networks and stronger links between major cities.
The latest index evaluated 315 airports and found that 74 percent experienced connectivity improvements during the year. Although growth slowed compared with the 14 percent increase recorded in 2024, the market entered a more balanced phase where expansion is being driven by long-term demand rather than rapid post-pandemic recovery.
The Air Connectivity Index measures how effectively airports connect passengers through factors such as network size, flight frequency, destination importance, transfer efficiency, aircraft operations and international reach.
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The findings show that airports are no longer competing only through passenger numbers. Strong connectivity, reliable schedules and strategic route development are becoming key factors determining global aviation leadership.
The Middle East emerged as the fastest-growing aviation region in 2025, recording a 21 percent increase in air connectivity. The region benefited from the continued expansion of Gulf aviation networks and the growing importance of its airports as international transfer hubs.
Major Middle Eastern airports continued linking travellers between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas by using their strategic geographic location and expanding airline networks.
International passenger connections from the Middle East increased significantly, with intercontinental traffic growing 9 percent compared with the previous year. Connectivity is now 27 percent above pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the region’s growing influence in global aviation.
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While geopolitical developments created temporary pressure on airline operations, schedules and airspace conditions, the fundamental strength of the Middle Eastern aviation market remained intact. Continued infrastructure development and strong international demand are supporting the region’s long-term connectivity ambitions.
Asia-Pacific recorded a 10 percent increase in air connectivity during 2025 as airports continued restoring international routes and strengthening regional travel networks.
The region’s aviation recovery was mainly supported by strong intra-regional movement. Around 91 percent of departing passenger traffic remained within Asia-Pacific, showing the importance of regional travel links. This figure increased 5 percent compared with 2024 and exceeded 2019 levels by 5 percent.
Beyond regional connections, Asia-Pacific also strengthened its global aviation presence. Intercontinental traffic from the region grew 7 percent year on year and reached 12 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
Travel connections between Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, and Africa have already moved beyond pre-2019 levels. Improved links through Middle Eastern hubs have also helped passengers access more international destinations.
However, connections between Asia-Pacific and North America continued to recover more slowly, remaining 9 percent below previous levels.
The strongest aviation hubs continued to drive global connectivity growth in 2025. Between 83 percent and 97 percent of major hub airports recorded improvements as airlines expanded networks and international passenger demand remained strong.
Dubai International Airport maintained its position as the most connected airport across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Shanghai Pudong International Airport moved into second place, followed by Incheon International Airport.
The top 10 most connected airports in 2025 included:
The rankings highlight the growing importance of Asian and Middle Eastern airports as global travel centres.
Chinese airports played a major role in improving regional aviation connectivity in 2025. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport all secured places among the region’s top 10 airports for total connectivity.
Shanghai Pudong recorded the strongest improvement among leading airports, increasing its connectivity by 32 percent during the year. The growth was supported by recovering international demand and expanding airline services.
Hong Kong International Airport also experienced a significant rebound, with connectivity improving by 28 percent, while Kuala Lumpur International Airport recorded a 30 percent increase.
These improvements demonstrate the renewed strength of Asian aviation markets and the return of important international travel links.
Beyond major hubs, several medium-sized airports achieved impressive connectivity improvements in 2025.
Among airports handling between 15 million and 25 million passengers annually, the strongest performers included Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Sharjah International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport in China.
Airports serving between 25 million and 40 million passengers annually also recorded notable gains. Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City showed some of the biggest improvements.
Smaller airports also gained attention. Surabaya and Phu Quoc improved strongly among airports handling 1 million to 5 million passengers, while Da Nang, Medina and Muscat emerged as leading performers in the 5 million to 15 million passenger category.
Their growth reflects expanding tourism demand, new airline routes and stronger regional economic activity.
Despite overall growth, smaller airports experienced increasing pressure from airline network changes.
Among airports handling fewer than 1 million passengers annually, only 51 percent recorded connectivity improvements in 2025. Airline route adjustments, network efficiency strategies and discontinued services affected some smaller markets.
This trend highlights the importance of balanced aviation development. While major hubs continue attracting investment and new routes, regional airports require stronger support through infrastructure improvements, tourism growth and airline partnerships.
International city connections continued increasing in 2025, with global city pairs growing by 10 percent. Although this was slower than the 17 percent growth recorded in 2024, it showed continued network expansion.
Domestic city connections also returned to positive territory, increasing by 0.8 percent after a decline the previous year.
The growth indicates that airlines are rebuilding networks based on changing passenger demand, economic opportunities and evolving travel patterns.
The continued expansion of city connections across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East confirms that global aviation is moving into a new phase focused on sustainable growth.
The latest connectivity results underline the growing importance of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East in the global aviation system. Both regions are strengthening their position through expanding airline networks, stronger airport infrastructure and rising international demand.
However, future progress will depend on whether airports, airspace systems and aviation policies can support increasing passenger flows.
The first months of 2026 have shown that resilience remains essential, with Asia-Pacific maintaining positive connectivity trends despite global challenges and Middle Eastern hubs continuing to support international travel.
As airlines expand routes and airports develop new opportunities, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are expected to remain among the most influential regions shaping the future of worldwide air connectivity.
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.”
Dubai International Airport continued its dominance as the strongest aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region, achieving a hub connectivity score nearly 40 percent higher than its closest rival. The airport’s extensive international network, strong transfer opportunities and global route coverage helped it maintain its leading position.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport ranked second, followed by Incheon International Airport, Hamad International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The rankings highlight the growing importance of major Asian and Middle Eastern gateways in connecting passengers across continents and supporting global travel flows.
The first half of 2026 brought a more complex environment for global aviation, with economic pressures, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies affecting connectivity trends. Despite these challenges, Asia-Pacific maintained positive momentum, with direct connectivity recording modest growth of 0.5 percent compared with the first half of 2025.
The Middle East experienced a sharper setback during the same period. Regional direct connectivity declined by 23 percent as conflicts and security concerns forced airlines to adjust schedules, suspend some operations and reroute flights away from affected airspace.
The contrasting performance reflects the importance of aviation resilience, with airlines and airports adapting quickly to changing global conditions while protecting passenger movement and maintaining essential international links.
Baronci emphasised: “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.
The 2026 edition of the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Index provides a detailed analysis of airport network performance across 315 airports, including 277 airports in Asia-Pacific and 38 airports in the Middle East. The study covers airports of different sizes, ranging from smaller facilities handling fewer than one million passengers annually to major international hubs serving more than 95 million passengers each year.
The index evaluates airport connectivity by combining direct routes, indirect connections and hub performance. It measures available seat capacity while considering the economic importance of destinations and the efficiency and quality of passenger connections. The research was developed in collaboration with PwC to provide a comprehensive view of aviation connectivity trends across both regions.
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Tags: Air Connectivity, Airport Connectivity Growth, Asia Pacific airports, global travel networks, Middle East Aviation
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Monday, September 7, 2026
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