International hubs like Istanbul (5.5pc growth) and Hong Kong (13pc growth) are outpacing Europe’s major hubs, such as London Heathrow (0.9pc).
Middle East and Türkiye airports, including Dubai and Riyadh, have developed mega-terminals to handle 70–100m passengers annually.
Doha’s connecting passenger share has risen from 66pc in 2015 to 74pc in 2025, while Dubai’s has decreased from 50pc to 47pc.
Global capacity growth has slowed to 2.9pc year-to-date, with domestic growth strong in Latin America and the Middle East but declining in Europe.
By 2050, regional airports are projected to accommodate 844m passengers, driven by over 5pc annual growth.
