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Airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are taking concrete steps to protect their infrastructure from climate change, moving beyond emissions reduction to address risks like flooding, extreme heat, and water scarcity, according to the Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID).“It is encouraging to see airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East responding proactively through smarter infrastructure planning, comprehensive risk assessments, resilient design, and stronger collaboration with governments and industry stakeholders,” said Stefano Baronci, director general of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East.Baronci was referring to the 12 airports across the two regions that were recognised for outstanding work in climate adaptation during the 10th annual Green Airports Recognition (GAR2026) programme. The awards were presented recently during the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition (RACE2026) in Bangkok, Thailand.He noted that ACI had initiated a landmark Climate Adaptation study to give airports tools for assessing climate-related risks, adding that adaptation was “not only critical for maintaining operational resilience but also for safeguarding the connectivity, economies, and communities that rely on aviation every day.”This year’s theme was ‘Climate Change Adaptation’. Winning projects included raising critical electrical infrastructure above flood levels, fitting heat-resistant runway materials, redesigning drainage systems to handle heavier rainfall, and securing alternative water supplies during droughts.The 33 submissions received this year were the strongest indicator yet that airports in both regions are treating climate adaptation as an operational priority, not just an environmental one, the organisation stated.According to the ACI APAC & MID, the submissions strongly indicate that airports in Asia-Pacific & Middle East are now leading the way not only by cutting carbon emissions but also by preparing for climate impacts such as flooding, extreme weather, storm surges, and water scarcity.The recognition was awarded under Platinum, Gold, and Silver categories across four passenger traffic segments. In the over-40mn passengers per annum category, Hong Kong International Airport took Platinum, Taoyuan International Airport took Gold, and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia took Silver.The following were recognised under the 15-40mn category: Auckland International Airport (Platinum), Melbourne Airport (Gold), and Kansai International Airport (Silver). Among airports handling five to 15mn passengers annually, Kaohsiung International Airport earned Platinum; Cochin International Airport, Gold; and Jaipur International Airport, Silver.In the under-5mn category, the winners are Nadi International Airport (Platinum), Sunshine Coast Airport (Gold), and New Plymouth Airport (Silver).The judging panel included Christopher Paling of Manchester Metropolitan University, Christopher Surgenor of GreenAir Online, Jennifer Desharnais of ACI World, aviation environmental consultant Dr Panagiotis Karamanos, and Baronci.The Green Airports Recognition programme was established by ACI Asia-Pacific with the support of the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Council. 

Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) has participated in the 62nd Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). QMC’s Director of International Co-operation Office Abdullah Ghanem al-Mohannadi led the Qatari delegation to the event held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The assembly addressed the role of media in preserving national and cultural heritage. Qatar’s participation reflects its commitment to introducing the country’s national efforts in the field of media, and opens new prospects for media cooperation between media institutions in the Asia-Pacific region and the State of Qatar.

Beyond the TarmacThe Asia-Pacific region’s aviation industry is back on the growth trajectory.The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global body of airlines, predicts 9% growth for Asia-Pacific in 2025.Which means, a region that has struggled to shrug off the strictures of Covid-19 is once again posting the highest growth rate in the world.Aviation in Asia-Pacific supports $890bn in GDP and 42mn jobs, with the potential to increase to $2.3tn in GDP and 62mn jobs by 2043.Analysts say rising middle-class populations, particularly in China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, are fuelling demand for both domestic and international travel.Asia is the epicentre of global e-commerce (China and Southeast Asia leading), driving robust demand for air cargo and integrated logistics.Asia-Pacific is home to some of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets. Countries like Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, and Australia continue to record strong inbound flows. Analysts believe regional tourism agreements and visa liberalisation policies are expected to boost connectivity.The UNWTO and IATA forecast Asia-Pacific to contribute more than half of global passenger growth over the next two decades.“Most countries have crossed the line of pre-COVID figures and are experiencing increasing air travel demand,” says Sheldon Hee, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific.“Four of the most populous countries in the world are in our region and all are young, emerging economies with a fast-growing middle class. We are even seeing some significant visa relaxation policies.“But the resumption of growth comes with challenges,” he adds. “The profit margin for 2025 is expected to be just 1.9%, or $2.60 per passenger. Aviation in Asia-Pacific must become more economically robust to meet demand with a high level of customer service delivered cost-efficiently.”Airport and airspace capacity are naturally the main considerations. On the positive side, there are at least 90 new airports under construction or in the planning stage, including significant gateways in Australia, India, and Vietnam. Each is a sign that the relevant government has aviation development on its agenda.“But there is more room for collaboration,” says Hee. “Airlines don’t need over-investment in facilities that would require deeper cost recovery. Development must be calibrated correctly, and airlines must be part of the conversation so that investments are correctly staged.”To assist passenger throughput — especially amid narrow margins — digitalisation in both passenger and cargo operations is essential. Every efficiency will count.Digitalisation and contactless travel centred on IATA’s ‘One ID’ will also be key enablers in enhancing the customer experience.India’s ‘Digi Yatra’, a facial recognition system for verified domestic customers, is leading the way but interoperability will be critical.Meanwhile, airspace is also being upgraded across the region but there is a notable bottleneck in the Bay of Bengal where aircraft get bunched for a variety of factors.The different levels of maturity in this diverse region mean there are also plenty of areas still reliant on older equipment, which leads to inefficiencies on a broader scale.Air cargo is an important part of needed capacity as Asia-Pacific is a major origin point for the booming e-commerce trade. Cargo revenues are often critical to the profitability of a flight, and this is certainly the case in Asia-Pacific.Trade barriers and tariffs could change traditional flows but demographic conditions and the desire to trade more within the region mean there are multiple opportunities for air cargo ahead.Although the outlook remains positive for this sector, there are inefficiencies to address. Paper is still commonplace in the region and optimisation based on the ONE Record has plenty of room for growth.“The industry is also doing a lot of work to make the carriage of dangerous goods (DG), and particularly lithium batteries, safer,” says Hee. “Good progress is being made but this work is especially pertinent to Asia-Pacific given the manufacturing in the region. We must educate the upstream shippers about the need for correct DG packaging and documentation.”IATA said it continues to work with governments and aviation authorities to promote the benefits of aviation and the business case for unlocking capacity.Undoubtedly, Asia-Pacific will remain the fastest-growing aviation region globally, led by China and India. Regional connectivity, tourism, and cargo are estimated to expand strongly.That said, the region’s air traffic management systems need modernisation to handle rising volumes efficiently and safely. Despite expansion, congestion at major airports in the region remains a major concern.