The next 20 years will see Asia Pacific’s aviation sector rise rapidly, led by India, predicts a new whitepaper from Alton Aviation Consultancy.
The study shows international traffic in Asia-Pacific grew 8% in 2025, outpacing global growth of 6.8%. This growth looks to continue with India, China and Southeast Asia forecast to account for eight of the world’s 10 fastest-growing air travel markets 2024-2044.
. . . Fast Growing India
The report says India is now one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, something which can be attributed partly to its rapidly expanding middle class. Southeast Asia is also an emerging growth region, led by markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
China has played a dominant role for some time now, but its growth is not as noteworthy as that of India and Southeast Asia, with Alton md Mabel Kwan saying Asia’s air travel story is no longer just about China.
“The growth we’re seeing in South and Southeast Asia is broad-based,” Kwan explains.
“Airlines are responding with strategic moves, from entering new markets and renewing fleets to forging ambitious partnerships that reflect the region’s evolving competitive dynamics.”
. . . Consolidation
Alongside significant growth, more airline consolidation is expected in the next two decades due to cost pressures and competitive intensity. Alton’s Adam Cowburn says the patterns echo past restructuring cycles in North America and Europe, but in Asia, he explains that this shift is unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing traffic growth, which presents a ‘very different kind of opportunity’.
And, as airlines look to strengthen their business as they grow, governments and airports across Asia are stepping up too, with Alton’s report highlighting large-scale infrastructure programs as an example of this. See more HERE.