Airfares to West still pricier with Mid-East war, premium for direct flights back to 2025 level: Report
The ASEAN Airports Economic Impact Study analysed the top 100 routes between Asia Pacific and the West.
Air travel costs from the Asia-Pacific region to the West remain higher due to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, but the additional cost for direct flights has returned to 2025 levels, according to a recent report. The ASEAN Airports Economic Impact Study examined the 100 most popular routes between Asia-Pacific nations and Western destinations, based on passenger traffic.
In 2025, direct flights were 18% pricier than those with a Middle Eastern stopover. After the Iranian war started, direct fares surged by 30% in March and nearly 50% in April. However, starting in May, direct flights became cheaper than those with a Middle Eastern connection as airlines in the region increased prices and cut flights.
In August, the operational capacity of Middle Eastern airports reached over 80%, compared to just 66% from March to August. Despite this improvement, direct and indirect flights to the Middle East remain more expensive than in 2025, with no sign of normalising by 2026, according to the report. Some airlines have suspended Middle Eastern flights due to geopolitical tensions.
Singapore's Changi Airport generated the highest economic impact among Asian airports in 2025, contributing $7.9 billion to GDP, compared to $3.1 billion in Thailand and $3 billion in Malaysia. The aviation sector in Singapore contributed $22 billion to the country's economy, the highest in ASEAN.
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