Over the next decade, Asia’s aviation sector is poised for transformative growth, reshaping air travel not just for China and Singapore but for millions of passengers worldwide. According to projections by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air passenger numbers will double by 2043, with demand in the Asia-Pacific region leading the charge. To accommodate this surge, major airports across the continent are undergoing extensive upgrades and expansions.
Asia’s airports are undergoing an infrastructure revolution, particularly those classified as "super airports" by Airports Council International (ACI). Data from aviation analytics firm OAG reveals that Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) is currently the only Asian airport to surpass 100 million scheduled seats in 2024, with 110 million seats. Haneda’s annual passenger capacity stands at approximately 90 million, and its 2024 traffic is nearing that threshold at 85 million passengers.
Other airports are closing in on this milestone. Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, and Delhi airports each have scheduled capacities between 90 and 95 million seats for 2024, laying the groundwork for future expansion. Below are key projects underway to help Asia’s largest airports handle over 100 million passengers annually within the next ten years:
1. Singapore Changi’s Terminal 5
Construction on Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 began in 2025 and is expected to add 50 million passengers to its annual capacity, bringing the airport’s total to around 140 million. The project is slated for completion by the mid-2030s.
2. Hong Kong International Airport Expansion
Hong Kong is building a third runway and new terminal facilities to boost its annual capacity from 74 million to 104 million passengers in the short term, with a long-term goal of 120 million. The expanded Terminal 2 will open in phases starting September 2025, with new check-in facilities operational by the second quarter of 2026.
Beyond Changi and Hong Kong, other airports—including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi, Incheon International in South Korea, and Long Thanh International in Ho Chi Minh City—are also expanding to strengthen their roles as regional or global transit hubs. These investments reflect the rapid economic growth, rising middle-class demand, and accelerating urbanization across Asia.
As economies flourish and travel demand soars, new members of the "100-million-passenger club" will soon emerge, reshaping the global aviation landscape.