Latest news with #ACIAPAC&MID
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Air Connectivity Ranking: Asia-Pacific Reports 13% Growth; Middle East Leads With 28%
28 May 2025, Shanghai, China: Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) today announced its highly anticipated Air Connectivity Ranking 2024, revealing a remarkable 14% year-on-year increase in both Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, driven by strong international demand, robust network recovery, and the return of major travel corridors. The ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Ranking is a comprehensive, passenger-centric analytical tool developed in collaboration with PwC in 2023 and refined for its third edition in 2025. The Ranking evaluates the overall level of air passenger connectivity offered by airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. It assesses performance through three fundamental building blocks: network scale and frequency, economic weight of destinations, and connection quality and efficiency. The Asia-Pacific region witnessed a remarkable 13% jump in overall connectivity compared to 2023, while the Middle East posted an impressive 28% increase, surpassing all post-COVID recovery forecasts. On average, connectivity across all airports rose in both Asia-Pacific and the Middle East by +14%, a strong testament to the resilience and dynamism of the aviation sector. In Asia-Pacific, intra-regional connections are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, trailing by just 0.2%. At the same time, intercontinental connectivity is on the rise, showing a solid 4% increase. The Middle East, however, isn't just recovering – it's setting a new pace. Both intra-regional and inter-continent connectivity have not only bounced back but have exceeded pre-pandemic levels by a significant margin of 18% and 16%, respectively. Key findings Airports in the region saw an average connectivity increase of +14% compared to 2023, indicating a strong industry recovery. Airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East experienced across-the-board connectivity growth in 2024, driven by China's reopening and route expansions. 80% of the top 300 airports have fully recovered connectivity levels, with larger hubs leading due to the resurgence of international travel. Domestic city pairs decreased by an average of -1% compared to 2023, suggesting a post-COVID emphasis on international expansion. International city pairs across all airport categories rose by an average of 17%, highlighting the strong return to cross-border travel. While intra-APAC passenger travel in 2024 is nearing 2019 levels, travel to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa has surpassed them, driven by Gulf hubs. Passenger traffic from Asia-Pacific to the Americas still trails 2019 levels. Passenger traffic in the Middle East recovered faster than APAC, showing robust 2024 vs. 2019 traffic, with passenger traffic to Africa and APAC significantly exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Traffic to the Americas remains below 2019. Despite increased competition, Dubai maintained its position as the leading airport in APAC and the Middle East. Major Asian hubs like Incheon, Singapore Changi, Shanghai Pudong, and Beijing Capital saw improved rankings and indices, reflecting strong outbound tourism and network adjustments. Commenting on the report, Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East, said: 'Air connectivity is not only relevant for passengers seeking more travel options and convenience; it is equally crucial for supporting global trade and economic resilience, particularly through belly hold cargo capacity.' 'While we celebrate this growth, we must remain forward-looking to ensure the momentum is sustained. Investment in airport infrastructure and technological upgrades is a prerequisite for enhancing connectivity, and airports across the region are undertaking significant investments to make this possible. In the face of growing geopolitical and trade tensions, we urge governments to prioritise air service liberalisation, streamlined visa policies, and transparent slot allocation frameworks. Lastly, we must not lose sight of the needs of small island and remote communities-- air connectivity remains their lifeline,' Mr. Baronci added. Rise of Airport City Clusters The 2025 edition introduces a fresh dimension: an analysis of airport city clusters. Larger urban agglomerations like Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Macau, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing dominate the new City Connectivity Index, demonstrating that the presence of multiple large airports enables higher flight frequencies and diversified routing options. Clusters such as Beijing and Shenzhen–Hong Kong-Macau have seen a substantial enhancement of connectivity through effective use of secondary airports. Seoul, Bangkok, and Taipei lead in per capita accessibility, offering exceptional connectivity relative to population size. Hub Airports with Connectivity Leadership The 2025 edition features a newly introduced 'Hub Connectivity Index,' which evaluates each airport based on the quality and effectiveness of its hub operations. Dubai International Airport emerged as the top hub, followed by Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hamad International Airport. About Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Ranking The ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East Air Connectivity Index is a comprehensive, passenger-focused analytical tool developed in partnership with PwC in 2023 and refined for its third edition in 2025. It measures the overall level of air passenger connectivity provided by airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, assessing performance through three fundamental building blocks: network scale and frequency, economic weight of destinations, and connection quality and efficiency. These are operationalised through three distinct index components: The Direct Connectivity Index quantifies nonstop links, incorporating frequency, aircraft type, and the economic significance of destination airports. The Indirect Connectivity Index captures the value of indirect itineraries, accounting for airline partnerships, number of stops, and international reach. The Hub Connectivity Index assesses an airport's ability to function as an international transfer point, using factors such as viable transfer windows, route deviation from direct flight paths, and the strength of onward connectivity. Together, these components provide a multi-dimensional and empirically grounded view of how airports connect people to places, balancing volume, relevance, and the quality of the passenger journey.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
35 airports from Asia-Pacific and Middle East win 68 ASQ Awards for Service Excellence
Hong Kong SAR: Airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions are setting new benchmarks in passenger experience. 35 airports out of a total 95 airports globally were recognised in the prestigious 2024 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards by Airports Council International (ACI). Collectively, airports in the region won 68 awards, across categories. The awards highlight the region's commitment to delivering world-class airport experiences amid rapid passenger growth. The ASQ Awards, announced in partnership with the leading travel technology company, Amadeus, stands out as the preeminent airport customer experience measurement and benchmarking programme globally. The ASQ Awards are based on the aviation industry's most comprehensive and trusted global measurement program for airport experience. This unique program gathers real-time feedback from travelers through live surveys at airports worldwide. Its rigorous methodology ensures accurate representation of a diverse range of passenger experiences, making it the only survey that enables fair airport comparisons. This year, 10 airports from Indonesia won awards across categories, while 8 airports China and 7 from India were recognised for service excellence. Other awards were assigned to airports in South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines in the Middle East, 6 airports were recognised, including two from Oman and one from KSA, Jordan, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. These awards reflect the dedication of airports to enhance customer experience through smart technology, service innovation, and passenger-centric design. Stefano Baronci, Director General, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said: 'As air traffic in Asia-Pacific and Middle East combined is expected to triple from 3.9 billion to almost 11 billion passengers over the next two decades, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey is paramount. The fact that 36% of the total awards have been assigned to airports on our Region is testament that airports in Asia-Pacific and Middle East are turning challenges into opportunities by embracing digital transformation, investing in infrastructure, and prioritising service excellence. Congratulations to all the winning airports.' Read full list of winner airports here. -Ends- Media Contact For further information, please contact: ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Sunil Subbaiah Head, Communications & Brand E: sunil@ About ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) serves as the voice of airports. It represents airport members, operating over 600 airports across Asia-Pacific and Middle East. ACI APAC & MID is head-quartered in Hong Kong and has a Middle East office in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). ACI APAC & MID represents the collective interests of airports to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations. ACI APAC & MID's mission is to advocate for policies and provide services that strengthen its members' ability to serve their passengers, employees and stakeholders. According to the latest Economic Impact assessment, Air transport supported 46 million jobs and contributed $1.18 trillion in GDP in both Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Over the next two decades, the aviation sector's direct contribution to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East's GDP is estimated to grow annually at 5.1% and 4.5%, respectively.
