ACI
07 October 2026
A new study by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), the first comprehensive assessment of the economic contribution of airports across ASEAN, quantifies the significant role aviation plays in supporting the region’s economic development.
The study, Strengthening the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM) for Greater Connectivity within and beyond ASEAN, finds that airports and the air connectivity they enable supported 23.3 million jobs and contributed US$244 billion to GDP across ASEAN in 2025.
The study examines the connectivity, policy, infrastructure and implementation gaps that need to be addressed for ASEAN to realise the full potential of the Single Aviation Market, and provides recommendations to strengthen connectivity within and beyond the region.
The findings show that airport-related activity alone, including direct operations, supply-chain effects and household spending, supported 1.6 million jobs and contributed US$ 55 billion to ASEAN’s GDP in 2025. Airport-related activity is also estimated to have generated US$36 billion in tax revenues to government, comprising US$8 billion from airport activity and US$28 billion from its wider catalytic impact across 11 ASEAN States...
