Thailand Joins China, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan as Leading Asian Markets Driving Hong Kong Airport’s Over Fifteen Percent Passenger Growth with More Than Fifty-Five Million Travelers in 2025

Published on December 21, 2025

Thailand Joins China, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan as Leading Asian Markets Driving Hong Kong Airport’s Over Fifteen Percent Passenger Growth with More Than Fifty-Five Million Travelers in 2025. This impressive growth is fueled by a strong recovery in regional travel, with Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland contributing significantly to Hong Kong International Airport’s surge in passenger traffic. As key markets like Thailand and Vietnam experience soaring demand, Hong Kong continues to solidify its position as a leading aviation hub in Asia, with robust passenger numbers and an expanding network of international flights. The airport’s strategic location and ongoing investments in infrastructure and technology have enabled it to thrive, further strengthening its role as a vital gateway for global travelers.

As 2025 draws to a close, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has witnessed exceptional growth, continuing its upward trajectory post-pandemic. The airport’s air traffic statistics for November 2025 highlight a surge in passenger numbers, with more than 5.19 million travelers passing through its terminals, a 17.1% year-on-year increase. This robust performance underlines the pivotal role that Hong Kong Airport plays as a global aviation hub. Crucially, Asian markets, including Thailand, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan, have been key contributors to this impressive growth, making Southeast Asia a driving force in the airport’s recovery and expansion.

Southeast Asia and Chinese Markets Lead the Charge

In November 2025, HKIA recorded an impressive 33,495 flight movements, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.7%. Among the standout performers, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland emerged as key regions driving growth, with Thailand joining Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan at the forefront of this expansion. These Asian markets collectively played an instrumental role in Hong Kong Airport’s passenger traffic surge, with transfer and transit passenger traffic seeing a notable 50.9% year-on-year increase.

Traffic between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, in particular, saw the most significant growth, fueled by rising demand for business, leisure, and family travel. Additionally, Southeast Asia, with its strong ties to Hong Kong, continued to be a crucial region for both visitor and transit passenger traffic. The Philippines and Thailand have long been important markets for Hong Kong, with Bangkok and Manila being among the top volume markets in terms of passenger traffic.

Record-Breaking Year for Hong Kong International Airport

Over the first 11 months of 2025, HKIA handled over 55 million passengers, marking a substantial 15.3% year-on-year increase. This growth can be attributed not only to the return of long-haul travel but also to the surge in regional travel from Asia-Pacific markets, with Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan driving significant passenger numbers. Flight movements also rose by 8.8%, totaling 358,825 compared to the same period in 2024. Hong Kong Airport’s cargo sector continued to show resilience, with cargo throughput reaching 486,000 tonnes in November 2025, a 5.9% increase compared to the same month in 2024.

The strong recovery in both passenger and cargo traffic speaks to Hong Kong Airport’s position as a crucial international gateway in Asia. With a focus on enhancing its infrastructure and services, the airport has capitalized on its geographical advantage, connecting key Asian hubs to destinations worldwide. This has allowed Hong Kong to thrive despite challenges like rising US tariffs affecting cargo flows to North America.

Southeast Asia’s Stellar Growth: Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines Lead the Way

Among the standout regions, Southeast Asia has emerged as a dominant player in Hong Kong Airport’s passenger growth. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines have been particularly instrumental in driving this surge.

Vietnam has shown the largest year-on-year seat growth, especially from Phu Quoc, where an additional 264,000 seats were added for the summer of 2025. This signifies a strong demand for travel to and from Vietnam, with Phu Quoc’s expanding tourism infrastructure contributing to Hong Kong’s traffic growth. The rise of Vietnam as a destination for both leisure and business travelers has been a notable trend in 2025, and Hong Kong Airport has been key in supporting this expansion.

Thailand, in particular, has also seen consistent high growth. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport has remained a top volume market for Hong Kong, with significant double-digit increases in passenger traffic noted in the first half of 2025. The growth in both inbound and outbound traffic to and from Thailand continues to be a key factor in Hong Kong Airport’s success, with the Thai market contributing substantially to the overall 15.3% growth in passengers.

Similarly, the Philippines has contributed to the overall surge, with Manila seeing notable traffic expansion. The consistent high demand for direct flights from Hong Kong to the Philippines highlights the continued importance of this market, driven by business, family, and tourism travel.

China’s Role in Hong Kong’s Growth

Of course, China has been a driving force in Hong Kong’s success story, with the Chinese Mainland market seeing the largest contribution to growth in 2025. Travel between Hong Kong and mainland cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou has surged, as the demand for cross-border travel and business trips rises. The strong recovery of the Chinese outbound tourism sector has had a direct impact on Hong Kong Airport, positioning it as a critical transit hub for mainland travelers.

Ongoing Investment and Innovations at Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport’s success has not only been driven by external factors such as growing regional markets but also by continued investments in infrastructure and technology. The airport has made substantial upgrades in recent years, ensuring that it remains a world-class facility capable of handling increased passenger and cargo volumes.

One of the key highlights in 2025 was the recognition of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) at the 2025 Hong Kong ICT Awards, where it received several accolades, including the Smart Mobility Grand Award. The award recognized the airport’s commitment to incorporating smart logistics and mobility solutions, streamlining operations, and improving passenger experiences. As the airport continues to innovate with cutting-edge technologies, its ability to handle growing traffic will only be enhanced, further solidifying its role as a vital Asian hub.

Cargo Sector Resilience and Growth Amid Challenges

While passenger traffic growth has been the primary story for Hong Kong Airport in 2025, its cargo sector also continued to thrive despite global challenges. Cargo throughput reached 486,000 tonnes in November 2025, marking a 5.9% increase year-on-year. Notably, export traffic played a significant role in driving this growth, with Hong Kong’s proximity to key manufacturing hubs in China and Southeast Asia continuing to benefit its cargo operations.

However, the ongoing trade tensions and US tariffs have slightly dampened the growth of cargo traffic to North America, although this has been offset by robust growth in Europe, the Chinese Mainland, and India. Hong Kong’s strategic location as a key cargo gateway between Asia and the rest of the world has ensured that its airport remains resilient, even amid challenges in the global trade landscape.

Looking Ahead: Strong Growth Prospects for 2026

As Hong Kong Airport heads into 2026, the outlook remains positive, with continued growth anticipated across both passenger and cargo sectors. The airport’s strategic location, coupled with the ongoing recovery in key Asian markets, positions it well for sustained growth in the coming years.

Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other Asian markets are expected to continue driving traffic to Hong Kong, with the airport’s continued investments in infrastructure, technology, and passenger services set to support this growth. As Hong Kong re-establishes itself as a leading aviation hub, its strong connections to Asia-Pacific will remain a key factor in its long-term success.

Thailand Joins China, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan as Leading Asian Markets Driving Hong Kong Airport’s Over Fifteen Percent Passenger Growth with More Than Fifty-Five Million Travelers in 2025. The strong surge in passenger numbers can be attributed to a booming recovery in regional travel, with Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland playing pivotal roles in boosting Hong Kong International Airport’s traffic.

In conclusion, Thailand and other leading Asian markets like China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan are crucial in driving Hong Kong International Airport’s impressive growth trajectory in 2025. With passenger numbers exceeding 55 million and flight movements climbing by 15.3%, the airport continues to cement its status as one of the world’s busiest and most vital air travel hubs. The airport’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its strong ties to Southeast Asia and China, ensures that its growth prospects remain bright well into 2026 and beyond.