The Asia-Pacific region’s increase in air travel is driving a cluster of high-growth in national and regional markets. Consequently, operators will need to be better-equipped for future demand.

APAC’s aviation sector has entered a period of sustained, structural expansion driven by rising middle-class demand, accelerating urbanisation, low-cost carrier growth, and rapid digital transformation. From India and China to Southeast Asia’s emerging markets, passenger volumes and fleet orders are reaching historic highs. As connectivity deepens and travel becomes routine rather than aspirational, industry leaders need to shore up their recruitment efforts and find solutions to the increasing shifts in consumer trends.

APAC’s Aviation Sector: An Ever-Increasing Demand

Starting off with India, research shows a surge in domestic travel demand and international connectivity, solidifying itself as a dynamic and growing aviation market. In fact, Airbus expects India’s commercial aircraft fleet to nearly triple by 2035, as it has already placed some of the largest aircraft orders in aviation history, including record-breaking narrowbody commitments. IndiGo – India’s biggest airline by revenue – continues to expand aggressively, increasing its fleet size, and introducing new domestic and international routes as a result.

The region’s next key player is China. It has already developed into one of the world’s largest aviation markets and it is projected to expand further, primarily due to its growing domestic travel demand. China is the poster-child for domestic air traffic rehabilitation in the Asia-Pacific, having strongly recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to internal tourism and business travel. China’s “big three” airline groups (Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern) are leading the way in this regard, continuing to scale operations at a fast pace.

Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region are adding to this expansive growth. Specifically,  Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are experiencing above-average travel demand growth; while the region’s overall growth forecast is 5.1%, Vietnam is expected to lead with 8.1%, while Thailand with 4%, according to a report by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID).

Vietnam’s expanding tourism sector and industrial growth have directly increased inbound and outbound travel as a result. Thailand, meanwhile, continues to benefit from strong leisure demand and transit connectivity, as it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for other Asian countries (like India) thanks to its relatively affordable luxury experiences – further underscoring the rise of the middle class in the region. Other notable contributors include the Philippines and Malaysia, both strengthening intra-ASEAN connectivity and low-cost carrier networks.

The Expanding Middle Class and Shifting Trends

It is no secret that the Asia-Pacific region has the world’s fastest-growing middle class, shifting consumption balance from the West to the East. This demographic development translates directly into increased air travel frequency, as first-time flyers are constantly entering the market in India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

First, leisure travel within and to China, India, and SE & NE Asian countries has become more accessible due to people’s increased access to disposable income, as well as the previous year’s falling ticket prices. Second, rising urbanisation and a young working population throughout the Asia-Pacific mean more frequent business and leisure travel.

According to a study by ESCAP, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila – dubbed ‘primate cities’ – have already become dominant urban centers with forecasts of even further migration increases in the coming years. Meanwhile, China’s has broken records in 2025, with the number of domestic tourist trips rising by 16.2% year-on-year to over 6.5 billion. This unprecedented growth and increase in middle-income populations show how nations in the Asia-Pacific region  are geared to sustain domestic and outbound tourism at scale.

Shifting trends are another important factor. Indeed, ‘experience-led travel’ is driving APAC demand, including demand for new culinary and cultural experiences, theme parks, concerts, and mega-events. These new preferences are already boosting intra-regional flows, transforming Asia-Pacific into a key global aviation hub and creating vast opportunities in both tourism and business.

LCCs and the Regional Connectivity Boom

Asia Pacific low-cost carriers (LCCs) are going to play a big part in increasing regional connectivity. Currently, APAC holds 36.9% share of global LCC passenger traffic, surpassing all other regions. Continued aviation infrastructure investments into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will unlock underserved markets, where over 65% of the population lives outside major metropolitan areas. In India, for instance, secondary airports are recording significant passenger growth, largely fuelled by LCC operations, as its LCC market is projected to grow at a 11.73% CAGR (2025–2034). China’s LCC market, meanwhile, is expected to grow at 10.51%.

Moreover, substantial aircraft orders are being placed by regional LCCs. Examples include Vietnam’s largest private airline, Vietjet, which placed a new order with Airbus for twenty widebody A330-900 aircraft in 2025, and Taiwan’s Tigerair signed a purchase agreement for four A321neo aircraft. Another important aspect is LLCs’ conscientiousness regarding their end-user by moving beyond the conventional ‘no-frills approach’, and minimising extra costs. Many LLCs now offer bundled fares, premium seating options, and operate widebody aircraft to serve longer-haul routes and connecting traffic.

The region’s digital transformation is also accelerating this progress, in view of increased widespread internet access. To this, airlines are adopting mobile services, dynamic pricing, automation, and AI-driven optimisation to increase their reach and profitability. A perfect example is Malaysia’s AirAsia, who successfully undertook digitisation processes to increase aircraft utilization, 24-hour scheduling, and low-cost long-haul operations.

Singapore Airlines, another leader in the region, is integrating generative AI across its operations, from improving in-flight product experiences to adopting dynamic pricing, while  Cathay Pacific has developed bots for robotic process automation (RPA) across departments to improve efficiency, and China Eastern Airlines who partnered with Alibaba to implement AI in ticketing and lifestyle services.

What does this mean for Operators and Aviation Stakeholders?

Naturally, APAC’s projected gargantuan growth in air travel means that operators and industry stakeholders will need to shore up their human resources. According to Boeing’s latest long-term forecast, the combined personnel needed to service the whole of APAC is as follows:

• New Personnel: 902,000
• Pilots: 254,0000.
• Technicians: 281,000
• Cabin Crew: 367,000

Training and development, together with an adequate supply of personnel, will be of utmost importance for APAC regional players in order to maintain the health, safety and prosperity of APAC’s aviation ecosystem.​ Industry leaders should also be proactive; this demand is not only about replacing retiring pilots and other personnel – it reflects net fleet expansion. Airlines will inevitably have to expand cadet programs, increase simulator capacities, partner with global flight training academies, and recruit experienced captains to bridge short-term gaps.

“The industry is entering a period where access to qualified aviation talent will define competitiveness. Strategic recruitment, training investment, and workforce flexibility will be essential to support the rapid expansion of air travel in APAC.” – says Mindaugas Rainys, CEO of Aerviva, an international aviation recruitment company.

Additionally, accelerated aircraft procurement and capital expenditure will also be key to meet future demands in the Asia-Pacific region. Already accounting for the largest share of future aircraft deliveries globally, Airbus forecasts multi-billion-dollar capital expenditure cycles, the expansion of leasing markets, together with increased maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) investments, and a greater supply chain strain for engines, avionics, and components.

A final, but decisive, factor to act upon will be the demand for cross-continental migration of aviation professionals. While the trend hitherto is that of pilots and other professionals migrating from Asia to the Middle East or to Western carriers, this is expected to reverse. Indeed, the demand for European and Australian captains, Middle Eastern expatriates, simulator instructors and examiners, aircraft engineers (especially with type ratings on A320/A321neo and B737 MAX) is set to increase dramatically to robustly service APAC’s future long-term aviation growth.

Conclusion: Operators need to be proactive

In view of these developments, operators and regional stakeholders will absolutely need to be proactive in many areas. Primarily, to sustain hiring across technical and operational roles, increase aircraft procurement and infrastructure investment, consider more cross-border professional mobility, and heightened regulatory and sustainability obligations as a consequence.

As a final point, operators should keep in mind that in their pursuit for growth and operational expansion, it would be amiss to lose sight of the people who enable that progress. Sustainable scaling depends not only on technology and infrastructure, but on investing in talent, culture, engagement, and long-term workforce development.