The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing a significant surge in air travel, with IATA projecting that passenger numbers will double by 2043. To cope with this strong demand, airports in the region are undertaking extensive development work to upgrade existing facilities and build new airports between 2025 and 2035 and beyond.

This construction boom is fuelling an accelerating trend towards mega airports in the region – classified by ACI as those able to handle over 100 million passengers. According to OAG’s scheduled capacity data for 2024, only one Asian airport, Tokyo Haneda (HND), had over 100 million seats filled by airlines that operate from the airport, reaching a total of 110 million.

In infrastructure terms, Tokyo Haneda Airport can handle approximately 90 million passengers annually. In 2024, it came close to that threshold, handling 85 million passengers. When looking at seat capacity - the number of airline seats filled by carriers from each airport – Tokyo Haneda is the only large Asian airport to have surpassed 100 million seats. However, Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, and Delhi are all close behind with between 90-95 million scheduled airline seats in 2024.

• Missed part one of our 100 Million Club blog series? Catch up on it here.

Which airports could join the 100 million club?

Here are some of the projects currently underway that aim to enable Asia’s largest airports to handle over 100 million passengers annually and join the 100 Million Club, most likely in the next decade:

Changi Airport (Singapore) Terminal 5:

• Construction on the new mega-terminal began in May 2025 and will add passenger capacity of approximately 50 million (taking the airport from nearly 90 million to approximately 140 million by mid-2030s).
• A third runway extension is also planned by 2027.

Hong Kong International Airport:

• Ongoing expansion includes a third runway and new terminal facilities, which will increase capacity from the current 74 million up to 104 million in the short term, and 120 million passengers per year in the long run.
• The expanded Terminal 2 will begin phased operations in September 2025 with new check-in facilities and other related features scheduled to open in early Q2 of 2026.
• The concourse and new arrival services are then planned for launch in 2027.

Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok):

• Expansion plans include construction of a fourth runway and new South Terminal at Thailand’s largest airport, which will increase the airport’s operational capacity from 65 million to approximately 150 million passengers per year by 2033.

Incheon International Airport (Seoul):

• Phase 4 expansion of the airport was completed in December 2024 and included new terminal capacity and a fourth runway, boosting capacity from 77 million to 106 million.
• A third passenger terminal and a fifth runway to support Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) and additional international services is under review.

Long Thanh International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City):

• Vietnam’s brand-new airport is currently under construction with the goal of handling 100 million passengers annually across four terminals and runways.
• Phase 1, scheduled for completion by 2026, will focus on building one runway, a passenger terminal, and supporting facilities with a capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually.
• Phase 2, expected by 2035, will add a second runway and terminal, increasing capacity to 50 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo.
• Finally, Phase 3 will see further expansions to reach the airport's full designed capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2050. 

Philippines (Greater Manila region):

• The strategy for the Manila area is to relieve congestion at Ninoy Aquino and Clark International Airports by constructing a third airport. The new Manila Airport (Bulacan) will be developed in phases, with an initial capacity of 35 million passengers annually, and a target of 100 million passengers annually once fully completed.
• Meanwhile, the existing international gateway at Ninoy Aquino Airport will get a new terminal, expanding capacity by 35 million annual passengers and freeing up space in the existing 3 terminals for renovation.
• There is also further development planned at Sangley Point Airport - the existing domestic airport will be expanded into an international airport over three phases, ultimately upgrading it to four runways and a potential capacity of 75 million passengers annually.

Other notable, significant airport development projects across Asia include:

• Expansion of Beijing Daxing International Airport.
• Construction of India’s second Delhi airport - Jewar (Noida) Airport.
• Expansion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.

Several of the key airport projects are also strategic investments in Megahubs, with countries positioning their airports as regional or global transfer hubs, which encourages scale. Singapore, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Incheon, and Hong Kong are all expanding to attract global long-haul and intercontinental transfers, and the New Manila Airport is designed to compete with regional giants in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Changi.

Another key factor is replacing or supplementing capacity-constrained airports. Some major cities are landlocked or have outdated infrastructure:

• Beijing Daxing was built to relieve congestion at the overloaded Beijing Capital Airport.
• Long Thanh in Vietnam will replace capacity from Ho Chi Minh City’s overstretched Tan Son Nhat airport.
• Jewar Airport in India is scheduled to open in July 2025 to provide new capacity in the Delhi airport system.

Asian governments see these aviation hubs as catalysts for foreign and domestic investment, tourism, and employment. Malaysia’s KLIA Aeropolis and India’s Jewar Airport, for example, are being built with city-scale economic zones in mind.

Asia is not only building more airports - it is building bigger, smarter, and more connected airports. These modern mega airports are using biometrics, AI, automation, and sustainability to support scalable growth without sacrificing passenger experience and efficiency.

Right across the region, significant infrastructure developments are underway, meaning that Asian airports will be well placed to serve the surge in demand for domestic and international air travel in Asia, driven by rapid economic growth, the rising middle class, and urbanisation. It won’t be long before the exclusive 100 Million Club has some new members.

Read part one of the series here.