The Gulf conflict has inflicted a revenue shortfall of up to $1bn on nine major Middle East airports in just two months, creating structural cash flow challenges and exposing vulnerabilities in fuel supply chains, according to the Airports Council International Asia Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID).
In a comprehensive assessment conducted with Flare Aviation Consulting, the ACI APAC & MID detailed the financial toll of the conflict from its onset through April 30, 2026, warning that the disruption has placed the global air transport network under acute stress.
ACI APAC & MID, which represents more than 600 airports across 45 countries, said the financial impact of the conflict from March to April 2026 was exceptional in magnitude for an industry characterised by regulated margins, fixed costs, and long term capital commitments.
The nine airports collectively handled 324mn passengers in 2025, accounting for approximately 70% of total Middle East traffic, making disruptions in the corridor consequential for the global aviation network.
The revenue shortfall of $900mn to $1bn over March and April 2026 was set against a budgeted target of $1.3–1.4bn, representing a gap equivalent to 55% of anticipated revenues.
The rise in airfares is evidence of how the imbalance between supply and demand drives prices upward, according to the ACI APAC & MID. On the contrary, it noted that airport charges remained unchanged throughout the period, as regulated instruments under established frameworks, and did not contribute to elevated fares.
With capacity constraints and rising volumes, airports must prioritise capital expenditure to ensure continuity and prepare for decades of growth. Given the current capacity constraints and rising passenger volumes across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, airports must prioritise committed capital expenditure to ensure operational continuity and prepare for the decades of growth ahead, the council stated.
The region served 3.9bn passengers in 2024 and is projected to exceed 11bn by 2054, requiring investment that cannot be deferred.
Fuel costs have emerged as the principal challenge. An ACI APAC & MID survey of 28 major airport operators found jet fuel prices nearly double pre conflict levels, even as stocks remain stable.
Airports have introduced mitigation measures including contingency planning, supplier coordination, and reserve stocking, though government support remains limited.
Stefano Baronci, director general, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said: “Against a backdrop of renewed upward pressure on jet fuel prices, longer routings driven by geopolitical tensions, persistent supply bottlenecks, and chronically elevated inflation, public policy should not add yet another layer of cost to air travel.”
He added: “Further increases in government imposed taxes, such as the latest taxation applied to passengers departing Australia, directly undermine connectivity, tourism, and trade and consumer welfare.”
ACI APAC & MID cautions that the next few months will be critical and urged airports and governments to strengthen fuel security, improve contingency planning, and diversify supply chains to reduce single region dependency.
