India, China, and Southeast Asia forecast to anchor future global air travel demand
Singapore – February 2nd, 2026 – Asia is emerging as the engine of global aviation growth, with India, China, and Southeast Asia forecast to account for eight of the world’s ten fastest-growing air travel markets between 2024 and 2044. This is according to a new whitepaper released today by Alton Aviation Consultancy, ahead of the 2026 Singapore Airshow.
Alton’s report outlines that international traffic in Asia-Pacific grew by 8.0% in 2025, outpacing global RPK growth of 6.8%. Carriers across the region have launched more than 600 new routes since 2015, significantly improving access to underserved destinations and enhancing intra-regional connectivity.
The whitepaper highlights India as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, underpinned by robust economic fundamentals and a rapidly expanding middle class. While China continues to play a dominant role, Alton notes that Southeast Asia is an emerging growth region, led by markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Mabel Kwan, Managing Director in Alton’s Singapore office, says: “Asia’s air travel story is no longer just about China. The growth we’re seeing in South and Southeast Asia is broad-based. 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.”
Alton also identifies significant near-term opportunities in currently unserved or underserved routes across the region. The arrival of longer-range narrowbody aircraft is expected to unlock new point-to-point services between secondary cities, enabling sustainable growth on routes previously unsuitable for widebody aircraft.
In addition to its passenger growth outlook, the whitepaper underscores Asia‑Pacific’s growing share in the global air cargo market, with the region now accounting for approximately 40% of total freight demand. This reflects the increasing importance of intra‑Asia trade and Asia’s role as a critical link in global supply chains.
The report also highlights a growing wave of airline consolidation across Asia, as carriers restructure in response to cost pressures and competitive intensity. While demand remains strong, margin challenges are prompting operators to pursue new models for long-term resilience.
“As competition intensifies and financial headwinds persist, consolidation has become a strategic necessity for many airlines in Asia,” says Adam Cowburn, Managing Director in Alton’s Singapore office. “We’re seeing patterns that echo past restructuring cycles in North America and Europe. But in Asia, this shift is unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing traffic growth, which presents a very different kind of opportunity.”
To support this growth, governments and airport operators across the region are advancing large-scale infrastructure programmes and rolling out next-generation technologies designed to improve capacity, operational efficiency and the passenger experience.
To download a copy of Alton’s report, Repositioning for Resilience: Managing Volatility and Unlocking Long-Term Growth, please click here.
About Alton Aviation Consultancy:
Alton Aviation Consultancy is a global advisory firm serving the aviation and aerospace industries. The firm was founded by veteran aviation industry executives, globally recognized for their thought leadership, quantitative analytics, and innovative solution development. The firm offers full value chain coverage with clients including airlines, manufacturers, MRO and aftermarket service providers, lessors, and the broader financial and investment community.
With presence in New York, Dublin, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, and Singapore, Alton’s diverse team of professional advisors bring a global perspective with deep regional expertise across the entire aviation value chain to its client engagements. Typical client engagements include strategy and business plan development, operational performance improvement, restructuring, and transaction support.
