Asia-Pacific, Middle East Airports Commit to Capacity Expansion, Sustainability

Airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are preparing for a projected annual air travel growth of nearly 7% over the next 25 years, driving a commitment to expand and modernize infrastructure to meet rising demand. The 2nd ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly, held in New Delhi, passed a resolution emphasizing sustainable long-term development through optimizing current capacity and developing new infrastructure on the ground and in the skies. Key initiatives include modernizing slot allocation systems, promoting Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) and enhanced cross-border Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) to reduce congestion and CO2 emissions, expanding runways and terminals, and integrating digital technologies and green energy solutions like Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The resolution also calls for diverse financing models such as Public-Private Partnerships and urges governments to adopt regulatory frameworks that balance commercial interests with consumer protection. Together, these regions represent 58% of the global aviation market and host nine of the world's ten fastest-growing aviation markets, underscoring the critical importance of these infrastructure investments for socio-economic development and global connectivity. Industry leaders stress a holistic, collaborative approach to ensure efficient, sustainable airport growth aligned with environmental and operational priorities.