Vietnam is leading the way, with plans to build 30 airports, while six other countries – Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines – are either planning new airports or expanding existing ones.

The investment should result in a significant expansion in passenger and cargo capacity in the region. That growth is much needed, given that total air passenger travel in Southeast Asia is expected to reach 653 million people by 2030, nearly doubling from 2023.

Source: Business Information Industry Association

Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation Airport Construction Database

Investment: USD 19.8 billion 
Estimated Year of Completion: 2025

This airport development project in Vietnam is slated to be one of the world’s most expensive greenfield airports. At over 5,580 hectares, the airport will spread across six communes in Long Thanh district in Dong Nai province. Its construction is divided into three phases and will be completed in 2050. Upon completion of construction, the airport should be able to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo annually. It is seen to relieve overloading at Vietnam’s largest airport, Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Source: Albatross

Investment: USD 14 billion 
Estimated Year of Completion: 2027

Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is fully financing and building the New Manila International Airport (NMIA), making it the most expensive infrastructure undertaking in Philippine history, whether by a public or private entity. The 2,500-hectare property will rise in Bulakan, Bulacan and will have a total of four parallel runways once completed. One of the promising airport development projects in the country, the completion of this airport will be able to accommodate 100 million passengers every year.

Source: airport-technology.com, manilastandard.net

Investment: USD 10 billion 
Estimated Year of Completion: 2030

The new Changi Airport Terminal 5 aims to serve 50 million passengers alone upon completion. It will be split and operated as smaller sub-terminals when needed. The 2,668-acre site will also have three extra runways and tunnel systems to the precincts, as well as over 100 additional departure gates. In addition, Changi’s new terminal will be a greener and more energy-efficient building, ready for viable alternative fuels and for the provision of fixed ground power and cooling for aircraft parked at the gates.

Source: The Straits Times