Asia Pacific aviation Archives

Geneva, Switzerland: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), offering a detailed overview of global air transport demand, capacity and operational performance through 2025, alongside data on airline fleets, busiest routes, employment and financial performance. The annual statistical collection draws on data from 1,315 airlines included in IATA's Annual Statistics collection, with more than 250 international airlines making specific data contributions to WATS. The report provides a broad picture of how the global aviation industry evolved in 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of premium travel, strong passenger growth in several emerging markets and major shifts in aircraft utilization. International premium-class travel recorded notable growth in 2025. The number of passengers flying business and first class reached 109.7 million, representing a 4.5% increase from the previous year. Premium travelers accounted for 5.5% of all international passengers during the year. Latin America recorded the strongest growth in premium-class travel, with passenger numbers increasing 22.1% to 4.0 million. Europe remained the largest premium travel market, recording 39.7 million premium-class passengers. However, when measured as a proportion of total passenger numbers, North America had the highest premium-class share at 10.4%, followed by the Middle East at 9.5%. Asia Pacific continued to dominate the world's busiest airport-pair rankings in 2025. Jeju International Airport and Seoul Gimpo International Airport in South Korea retained the top position, with 13.3 million passengers traveling between the two airports. The strength of domestic aviation in the region was evident across the rankings. Nine of the world's 10 busiest airport pairs were located in Asia Pacific, while the only route outside the region was the domestic connection between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. All 10 of the world's busiest airport pairs were domestic routes. At the regional level, Cape Town International Airport and Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport formed Africa's busiest airport pair, carrying 3.4 million passengers in 2025. In Latin America, Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport and Medellín's José María Córdova International Airport ranked as the busiest airport pair, with 3.5 million passengers. Europe's busiest airport connection remained the route between Barcelona's Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and Palma de Mallorca, carrying 2.1 million passengers. Meanwhile, Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Malmö Airport recorded the fastest growth among European airport pairs, with passenger numbers jumping 85% to 271,031. In North America, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport were the busiest domestic airport pairs, with 2.2 million passengers. JFK and London Heathrow ranked as the busiest international airport pair from North America, carrying 2.1 million passengers. The United States remained the world's largest passenger market in 2025, recording 890.1 million passengers arriving in or departing from the country. However, passenger numbers grew only 1.6% from 2024, the slowest growth among the world's 10 largest passenger markets. China retained second place with 776.1 million passengers, an annual increase of 4.8%. The United Kingdom ranked third with 269.7 million passengers, followed by Spain with 252.7 million and Japan with 223.5 million. India ranked sixth among the world's biggest passenger markets, recording 218.2 million passengers in 2025, up 3.3% year on year. Italy followed with 187.3 million passengers, while Germany recorded 163.8 million. France and Türkiye rounded out the top 10, with 152.6 million and 129.3 million passengers, respectively. Several Central Asian markets posted particularly strong growth. Kazakhstan recorded a 40% increase in passenger numbers to 18.1 million, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally. Uzbekistan handled 12.5 million passengers, representing 16.9% growth from the previous year. Outside Central Asia, Vietnam also recorded significant expansion. The country handled 80.9 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 14.8% compared with 2024. IATA's figures count scheduled passengers originating or terminating in each country. Domestic journeys are counted once, while international journeys are counted in both the country of origin and the destination country. The WATS data also highlights changes in the aircraft fleet and how different aircraft types are being utilized. Newer, more fuel-efficient widebody aircraft have expanded their presence in global operations since 2019, while older aircraft types have seen reduced utilization. Boeing 787 operations increased 40.8% between 2019 and 2025, with the aircraft operating 795,000 flights in 2025 compared with 564,000 in 2019. Airbus A350 operations more than doubled over the same period, rising 117.4% from 200,000 to 434,000 flights. In contrast, Airbus A380 operations declined 24.4%, from 119,000 flights in 2019 to 90,000 in 2025. Narrowbody aircraft continued to dominate global airline operations. Boeing 737 aircraft, including all variants, remained the most widely used aircraft family, operating 10.8 million flights in 2025. This was a 12% increase from 2024 and represented a 3.1% increase compared with 2019. The Airbus A320 ranked second with 8.7 million flights in 2025, compared with 8.1 million in 2019, an increase of 7.6%. The Airbus A321 recorded 4.2 million flights, significantly higher than the 2.6 million flights recorded in 2019, representing growth of 61.6%. Embraer's ERJ 170/190 family operated 2.7 million flights in 2025, compared with 2.6 million in 2019, an increase of 2.8%. Meanwhile, Airbus A319 operations fell 34.3%, from 2.1 million flights in 2019 to 1.4 million in 2025. The Airbus A220 recorded one of the most dramatic increases in utilization. The aircraft family operated 530,000 flights in 2025, compared with only 61,000 in 2019, representing a 770.4% increase as the newer-generation narrowbody continued to expand its presence in airline fleets. The latest WATS data points to a global aviation market that continues to evolve across passenger demand, premium travel and fleet composition. While the United States remained the world's largest passenger market and Asia Pacific dominated the busiest airport-pair rankings, rapidly growing markets in Central Asia and Southeast Asia also emerged as important contributors to global traffic growth. At the same time, the rise in Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and A220 utilization, alongside declining Airbus A380 and A319 operations, reflects the industry's gradual shift toward newer aircraft and changing airline fleet strategies.

IATA: Premium Air Travel Grows As Asia Pacific Dominates Global Aviation In 2025

Aviation Today News Desk / July 26, 2026

Geneva, Switzerland: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), offering a detailed

Airlines

China Eastern Airlines Signs $15.8 Bn Airbus Deal For 101 A320neo Aircraft By 2032

Aviation Today News Desk / April 6, 2026

Shanghai, China: China Eastern Airlines has signed a major fleet expansion agreement with Airbus, placing an order for 101 A320neo-family

Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities confirmed on Friday that all 10 victims from the fatal crash of an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR 42-500 turboprop aircraft have been recovered, concluding a seven-day search and rescue operation on the steep slopes of Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi. The aircraft, registered PK-THT, disappeared from radar on January 17 while on a maritime surveillance mission for the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. It was en route from Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar when contact was lost during its final approach. Rescue teams, comprising personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), military, police, and volunteers, faced rugged terrain, steep ravines, dense fog, and volatile weather throughout the operation. Bodies were found in scattered locations on the mountainside and transported to forensic specialists in Makassar for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) procedures. By Friday morning, the 10th and final victim had been located, marking the official end of the recovery phase. Authorities expressed condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated support for identification and repatriation processes. A key breakthrough in the investigation came with the recovery of the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) from the wreckage. A joint SAR team located both units intact in the tail section of the aircraft on January 21, despite adverse weather delaying initial access. Following extraction from the crash site, the devices were secured and transported to a checkpoint in Tompobulu village, before being handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), Indonesia’s official air accident investigation authority. Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii confirmed that the recorders will be analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Earlier in the response, the KNKT classified the crash as a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) incident, indicating the aircraft was under control when it impacted the mountain slope although classification does not imply pilot intent or assign fault. The investigation team has not yet publicly disclosed a definitive cause, citing the ongoing analysis of flight recorder data and other evidence. The ATR 42-500 turboprop was conducting a routine surveillance mission in support of fisheries and maritime resource monitoring when it vanished. Initial reports indicated 10 people on board, including seven crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The mountainous crash zone spans portions of Maros and Pangkajene and Islands regencies, complicating early rescue efforts and driving a multi-agency coordinated response.

Investigation

Search Ends After All 10 Victims Are Found In Indonesia ATR-42 Crash In Sulawesi Mountains

Aviation Today News Desk / January 25, 2026

Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities confirmed on Friday that all 10 victims from the fatal crash of an Indonesia Air Transport

New Zealand

NZ Launches New Aviation Sandbox To Speed Up Testing Of Emerging Aerospace Technologies

Aviation Today News Desk / November 27, 2025

Wellington, New Zealand: The New Zealand Government has introduced a new civil aviation rule aimed at reducing regulatory barriers and accelerating innovation

Singapore: Passengers flying out of Changi Airport and Seletar Airport will soon pay a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) levy starting in 2026, as part of Singapore’s drive to reduce the aviation sector’s carbon emissions and support global decarbonisation goals. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the levy will apply to tickets issued from April 1, 2026, for flights departing on or after October 1, 2026. The collected funds will be channelled into purchasing sustainable aviation fuel, helping airlines transition away from fossil-based jet fuel. Under the new system, passengers will pay different levy rates depending on destination zones and cabin classes: Band 1 – Southeast Asia: Economy S$1 | Premium S$4 Band 2 – Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia & Papua New Guinea: Economy S$2.80 | Premium S$11.20 Band 3 – Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pacific Islands, Central & West Asia: Economy S$6.40 | Premium S$25.60 Band 4 – The Americas: Economy S$10.40 | Premium S$41.60 Transit passengers passing through Singapore will be exempt from the levy. The scheme will also cover cargo operators, business aviation, and general aviation flights, which will pay a SAF contribution based on aircraft weight or cargo load. CAAS stated that the initiative is a market-based mechanism designed to accelerate the uptake of SAF in a cost-effective and transparent manner. The authority said the levy would make the cost of cleaner fuel predictable for airlines and travellers while ensuring funds are ring-fenced for SAF purchases. “The SAF levy is a key part of Singapore’s decarbonisation framework for aviation. It enables us to make steady progress towards our targets while maintaining competitiveness as a global air hub,” CAAS said in a statement. Singapore’s aviation decarbonisation roadmap targets at least 1 % SAF usage by 2026, increasing to 3 %–5 % by 2030, depending on supply availability and cost developments. The levy rates could be adjusted in future as the SAF blend ratio rises. Globally, sustainable aviation fuel remains more expensive than conventional jet fuel typically costing two to five times more but is widely regarded as the most immediate tool to cut aviation’s carbon footprint. Singapore’s move follows similar measures adopted in the European Union and Japan, and could set a precedent for other Asian hubs exploring SAF mandates or incentives. The initiative complements broader efforts under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) CORSIA framework, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. By creating a structured and transparent levy system, Singapore aims to send a clear demand signal to fuel producers and investors, potentially attracting SAF production and supply-chain projects to the region.

Airlines

Singapore To Roll Out Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy On Flights From 2026

Aviation Today News Desk / November 11, 2025

Singapore: Passengers flying out of Changi Airport and Seletar Airport will soon pay a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) levy

Asia Pacific aviation

IATA: Premium Air Travel Grows As Asia Pacific Dominates Global Aviation In 2025

China Eastern Airlines Signs $15.8 Bn Airbus Deal For 101 A320neo Aircraft By 2032

Search Ends After All 10 Victims Are Found In Indonesia ATR-42 Crash In Sulawesi Mountains

NZ Launches New Aviation Sandbox To Speed Up Testing Of Emerging Aerospace Technologies

Singapore To Roll Out Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy On Flights From 2026

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