ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East will advocate for smarter, safer, sustainable and connected airports at 60th ICAO DGCA 2025 Conference

With the aviation industry poised for exponential growth, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) is set to make strong recommendations at the ICAO 60th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for Asia and Pacific regions in Sendai, Japan from 28 July to 1 August 2025.

Representing over 600 airports across the region, ACI APAC & MID will outline strategic policies aimed at making the aviation industry smarter, safer, sustainable, and better-connected air transport system.

The timing of these recommendations couldn't be more critical. By 2053, airports in the region are projected to handle nearly 11 billion passengers annually, almost triple the 3.9 billion recorded in 2024. To meet this demand, governments and airport operators are expected to invest over USD 240 billion in new infrastructure and modernisation efforts over the next decade.

ACI APAC & MID’s proposals offer practical solutions to meet this surging demand while prioritising efficiency, security, and environmental responsibility.

Our position and support 

Transposition of ICAO Annex 14 SARPs 

Climate Adaptation Guidance and Tools  

Barriers to Air Travel 

Strengthening Airport and ATM  

Enhancing Security with Airport Design 

Implementation of Automated Border Control  

Transposition of ICAO Annex 14 SARPs: Presents a proven method for aligning ICAO Annex 14 SARPs with national standards and calls for global adoption to ensure consistent implementation.  

Climate Adaptation Guidance and Tools: Emphasises the need for airports to assess climate risks and adopt standardised tools and practices to build resilience. 

Barriers to Air Travel: In partnership with IATA, ACI APAC & MID urges the removal of excessive taxes, concession fees, and advocates for streamlined visa processes like e-Visas to improve connectivity and economic impact. 

Strengthening Airport and ATM Cooperation: Jointly with CANSO, the paper calls for better alignment between airports and ATM through tools like A-CDM and ATFM to manage capacity more efficiently. 
 

Enhancing Security with Airport Design: Presented by ACI APAC & MID, and co-sponsored by Singapore and the U.S., the paper calls for integrating security considerations early in airport planning to ensure safer, more resilient infrastructure. 

Implementation of Automated Border Control: Presented by Thailand, and co-sponsored by Singapore and ACI APAC & MID, the pacer advocates wider application of ABC systems to boost efficiency, security, and the passenger experience. 

ACI APAC & MID aims to drive meaningful dialogue at the ICAO-hosted conference and encourage States to align national strategies with global standards and industry’s best practices.