The TWG Tea Gallery is located in one of the world’s leading aviation hubs, underscoring TWG Tea’s continued investment in travel retail as a key pillar of its global expansion. 

Spanning 2,700 square feet, the TWG Tea Gallery celebrates the stories, traditions and artistry that have shaped tea over the centuries, brought to life through its landmark TWG Tea Museum. 

Singapore has remained central to TWG Tea since its founding. We are honoured to present our largest global flagship at Changi Airport, an icon of aviation excellence and an extraordinary platform to bring the world of TWG Tea to travellers from around the world,” said  President & CEO of V3 Gourmet and Co-Founder of TWG Tea, Taha Bouqdib.

TWG Tea Museum showcases more than 170 antique tea wares and over 50 antique Russian samovars from the 17th to 20th centuries, personally curated by the brand over the past 15 years from around the world. 

TWG Tea Gallery also introduces a selection of exclusive creations, including the Grand Voyage Tea from the Grand Mode Tea Collection, the Singapore Surprise Gift Set, and specially created tea-infused macarons, ice cream and sorbet.

As one of Singapore’s most recognised brands, TWG Tea reinforces Singapore’s role within the brand’s global network and reflects its continued investment in travel retail as a key pillar of international growth. 

With an expanding presence across airports, luxury hotels and cruise lines worldwide, TWG Tea continues to bring its distinctive retail and gastronomy concepts to major travel destinations, reaching international audiences across markets.

Recent openings in Saudi Arabia and Mongolia, alongside continued growth in global cities including Seoul, London and Kuala Lumpur, further underscore the brand’s expanding international footprint.

Looking ahead, TWG Tea will continue to pursue purposeful, experience-led growth across key destinations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as the brand approaches its 20th anniversary in 2028. 

TWG Tea Gallery opens 24 hours at Changi Airport Terminal 3, Departure/Transit Lounge North.

(Source: TWG Tea)

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Steven Yiu, formerly Executive Director of Airport Operations, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Cissy Chan, Executive Director of Commercial, has taken up a concurrent new appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEC Holdings Limited, AAHK’s subsidiary that oversees the SKYTOPIA business. 

Both report directly to AAHK’s CEO, and the appointments take effect on 1 October 2026. 

As COO, Yiu will lead the Airport Management Division and the Cargo and Logistics Division. He will be responsible for managing and driving excellence across HKIA’s core airport operations, including safety, customer service, cargo operations, and development, among others.

Chan will continue to lead the Commercial Division, overseeing airport retail and HKIA’s land and property portfolio. As CEO of IEC Holdings, she will spearhead SKYTOPIA’s various projects, including 11 SKIES, aimed to develop into a leading entertainment hub, and the Airport Yacht Bay, the largest facility of its kind in Hong Kong.

AAHK CEO Vivian Cheung said: “I would like to congratulate Steven and Cissy on their new appointments. Both have delivered outstanding results over the years and contributed to HKIA’s worldwide recognition as one of the best airports. Their appointments and expanded portfolios reflect our full confidence in their leadership. They will continue to drive the key developments at HKIA, reinforcing our position as the hub of Asia.”

Yiu joined AAHK in 1995 and was appointed Executive Director, Airport Operations, in 2022, overseeing planning and operations across HKIA. 

Chan was appointed as Executive Director, Commercial of AAHK in September 2012. She brought to the airport a wealth of management experience gained from local and multinational corporations, particularly in partnership development, negotiation and managing commercial alliances. 

(Source: AAHK)

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Now in its 18th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding people, lounges and travel experiences across the Priority Pass global network.

 Following the announcement of this year’s Lounge of the Year and One to Watch winners in May, the latest categories turn the spotlight on the people delivering exceptional service every day and the partners responding to the changing needs of travellers.

Recognised initiatives range from a dedicated Calm Room designed to support neurodivergent travellers in Brazil, to more sustainable lounge operations in Saudi Arabia and the use of thousands of recycled plastic bottles in lounge design in Spain. Alongside them, three All Star winners have been recognised for the individual acts of care, problem-solving and personalised service that can make a lasting difference to a traveller’s experience. 

Pioneer of the Year

The Pioneer of the Year category celebrates partners that offer unique and innovative services and solutions to enhance the overall traveller experience. 

This year’s winners:

• BRT Lounge Porto Seguro at Porto Seguro Airport, Brazil; 
• Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia; 
• A Coruña Sala VIP Lounge at A Coruña Airport, Spain;
• At BRT Lounge Porto Seguro in Brazil, inclusivity is at the heart of the lounge experience. 

All Star of the Year

The All Star of the Year category recognises individuals who consistently go above and beyond to deliver service excellence for Priority Pass members. 

This year’s winners: 

• Tran Minh Quang of SH Premium Lounge Hanoi 2 at Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam;
• Abdulaziz Fahad Alharbi of Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia;
• Miao Shu Na of Oriental Club Lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan.

“The All Star of the Year and Pioneer of the Year winners are a brilliant reflection of the people and ideas shaping the airport experience today,” said Collinson International CEO Christopher Evans. “Whether it’s an individual making a traveller’s journey that little bit more special, or a team finding new ways to create more thoughtful and inclusive spaces, these awards recognise the care and creativity that goes into delivering a great guest experience. We’re incredibly proud to work with partners who share that commitment, and I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s winners on their achievements.”

(Source: Priority Pass)

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The MOU will ensure eligible passengers travelling with Star Alliance member airlines can continue to access the premium lounge at Incheon International Airport after Asiana Airlines departs Star Alliance on 16 December 2026, as part of its integration with Korean Air. Eligible passengers of Star Alliance member airlines currently enjoy access to Asiana Airlines lounges at Incheon International Airport.

Under the MOU, the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 will transition to a Star Alliance lounge. The lounge is expected to begin operations in 4Q 2026, in conjunction with Asiana Airlines’ departure from the Alliance. 

Eligible passengers of Star Alliance member airlines at Incheon International Airport will continue to enjoy seamless premium lounge services following the transition.

The decision to establish a dedicated Star Alliance lounge at Incheon International Airport reflects the airport’s continued importance as a major international gateway, ranking as the world’s number one airport for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026. 

The new space will be the seventh Star Alliance lounge worldwide, joining its existing lounges at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. In addition, eligible Star Alliance member airline customers enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world.

(Source: Star Alliance)

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Passenger volume exceeded 210,000 on 1 August, marking the highest daily passenger traffic during the summer travel peak this year, excluding days affected by flight rescheduling due to adverse weather. Transfer/ transit passengers continued to drive overall passenger growth in August, recording a double-digit increase. Growth was mainly led by traffic with the Chinese Mainland and South Korea, while the decline in the Middle East moderated further.

In the first eight months of the year, passenger volume grew by 10.1% year on year to 44.3 million, while flight movements increased by 3.5% year on year to 269,900. On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose by 11.4% year on year to 65 million, while flight movements increased by 4.5% to 403,850.

Cargo volume declined by 1.2% year on year to 422,000 tonnes in August 2026. Exports declined by 8.8% year on year, partially offset by 18.2% growth in transshipments and 3.6% growth in imports. Among key trading regions, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland remained resilient, helping to cushion softer traffic with Europe and the Middle East amid evolving regional trade dynamics.

From January to August this year, cargo traffic recorded year-on-year growth of 17% in the Chinese Mainland, 14% in Southeast Asia and 8% in Europe, offsetting declines in North America and the Middle East. Total cargo throughput over the eight months increased by 2.6% year on year to 3.34 million tonnes. On a 12-month rolling basis, total cargo traffic reached over 5.15 million tonnes, up 2.7% year on year.

(Source: HKIA).

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Kuala Lumpur International (KUL) ranks fourth globally and first among all Asian airports, with connections to 154 destinations.

KUL also tops OAG’s Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Megahubs index, offering nearly 15,000 possible low-cost connections. AirAsia operates 34% of the airport’s total flights. Seoul Incheon (ICN) ranks second in the LCC rankings, with connectivity to 198 destinations.

Another standout story in Asia Pacific this year is the recovery of Chinese airports. Shanghai Pudong (PVG) rises from 19th to 14th globally, Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN) from 36th to 19th, and Hong Kong (HKG) returns to the global top 20, moving from 22nd to 20th. Tokyo Haneda (HND) also improves, from 9th to 8th globally.

Singapore Changi (SIN) climbs significantly in the LCC rankings, from 10th to 5th, reflecting growth in both destinations served and potential low-cost connections. Fukuoka (FUK) is another strong mover, rising from 13th to 8th in the LCC index.

The average dominant carrier share at Asia Pacific’s top 10 airports is 33%, lower than most other regions. This reflects the diverse mix of full-service and low-cost carriers serving different traveller segments across Southeast and Northeast Asia.

“The Asia Pacific numbers tell two stories this year,” said  OAG Head of APAC Mayur Patel. “The first is the completion of Chinese aviation’s post-pandemic recovery; these airports are back in the top 20, and the data shows it. The second is how low-cost carriers have reshaped Southeast Asian connectivity: 51% of all seats in the region are now operated by LCCs, well above the global average.”

Megahubs 2026 data and methodology: https://www.oag.com/megahubs-2026

(Source: OAG).

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ACI APAC & MID presented three discussion papers to the conference. Its joint paper with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) assessed airport and airspace capacity. Other recommendations called for modernising airport slot policies and highlighted practical programmes and tools to help airports strengthen climate resilience and advance towards Net Zero.

Key outcomes

Airport and Airspace Capacity: The DGCA Conference supported the partnership between ACI APAC & MID and CANSO, which aims to assess airport and ATM capacities in the region and whether these capacities will meet future traffic growth. This initiative highlights the need to expand, optimise, and improve airport and air traffic management (ATM) capacity in tandem. This collaboration is strategically important as the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions prepare for significant growth in air travel.

Airport Slot Policy: ACI APAC & MID highlighted the importance of maintaining the fundamental principles of the airport slot allocation framework while improving its efficiency and effectiveness. The conference encouraged States to continue stakeholder discussions to improve slot allocation efficiency.

Climate Action: States and Administrations are encouraged to recommend that their airports participate in the ACI APAC & MID Net Zero Roadmap and use the complimentary Climate Risk Maturity Check Tool and Climate Risk Assessment Tool to strengthen preparedness and long-term resilience. This paper received support from various States, particularly the Pacific Island States. 

Commenting on the outcomes,  ACI APAC & MID Director General Stefano Baronci said: “Asia-Pacific and the Middle East continue to be the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Meeting this growth will require close cooperation between governments, regulators and industry to ensure that airport infrastructure, airspace capacity and policy frameworks evolve in step with demand. As a voice of airports, we are pleased to bring the airport perspective to these discussions and support practical policies that enhance capacity, operational efficiency and airport climate action across the sector.”

Additionally, through Information Papers, ACI APAC & MID highlighted key challenges and priorities for the region’s airports:

Airport Security and Facilitation: Addressed the operational challenges facing airport security amid rapid traffic growth and the need to ensure that security and facilitation measures keep pace with rising passenger demand.

The State of the Asia-Pacific Airport Industry: Examined the region’s airport industry, highlighting traffic growth, financial pressures and the need for continued infrastructure investment to meet future demand.

(Source: ACI)

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The ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Index is a passenger-centric analytical tool that measures airport connectivity through network scale and frequency, the economic weight of destinations, and connection quality and efficiency by aircraft type, domestic/international status, number of stops, and alliance membership.  

The Middle East posted 21% growth in air connectivity, driven by the expanding reach of Gulf-based carriers, while Asia-Pacific grew 10%, reflecting continued network expansion.  

The growth reflects expanding international networks, stronger hub connectivity, and the continued recovery of city-pair connections. As the regions enter the next phase of growth, the focus will be on ensuring that airport and airspace capacity, infrastructure, and the wider policy environment keep pace.

The first half of 2026, however, highlights the importance of resilience: Asia-Pacific connectivity remained positive amid a challenging global environment, while in the Middle East, the region’s strategic geographic position and strong underlying aviation market continue to support its role as a major global connectivity hub, even as geopolitical developments have created short-term challenges for airline schedules, airspace, and connectivity.

Key findings

Across the 315 airports covered by the index, 74% recorded positive connectivity growth in 2025, with the overall index up 11%, moderating from 14% in 2024 as growth settled into a more sustainable trajectory.

Major hub airports continued to lead, with 83-97% recording growth, benefiting from continued airline network expansion and sustained international travel demand.

Chinese airports recorded a significant increase in connectivity, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) ranking in the top 10 for total air connectivity in 2025, alongside Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata, India), Sharjah International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport (Hainan province, China) recorded the strongest improvements among airports handling 15–25 million passengers a year, driven by international network recovery, airline expansion, and rising regional demand.

Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), Abu Dhabi International Airport, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) were the biggest improvers among airports handling 25–40 million passengers a year.

Among airports handling 1 to 5 million passengers a year, Surabaya and Phu Quoc stood out. At the same time, Da Nang, Medina and Muscat led the 5 to 15 million category, all showing notable improvements in connectivity rankings and growing potential as emerging gateways, driven by strategic route expansion, tourism recovery, and regional development.

Only 51% of the smallest airports (under 1 million passengers a year) recorded increased connectivity in 2025, partly reflecting airline route rationalisation and the closure of several connections.

Intra-regional flows still account for 91% of departing passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific, up 5% from 2024 and 5% above 2019 levels.

Intercontinental traffic from Asia-Pacific grew 7% year on year, reaching 12% above pre-pandemic levels. From the Middle East, intercontinental traffic grew 9% year on year and is now 27% above pre-pandemic levels.

Traffic from Asia-Pacific to Europe, the Middle East, Central & South America, and Africa has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, driven by resurgent demand and improved connectivity, especially via Gulf hubs. North America is the exception, still 9% below 2019 levels.

International city pairs grew 10% on average in 2025, moderating from 17% in 2024, while domestic city pairs turned positive at 0.8%, recovering from a 1% decline in 2024.

Movers and shakers

Dubai International Airport continues to rank at the top in 2025, followed by Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Incheon International Airport. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport ranks fourth, followed by Hamad International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, completing the top 10 most connected airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The three airports recording the greatest improvements in connectivity in 2025 were Shanghai Pudong International Airport (+32%), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (+30%), and Hong Kong International Airport (+28%).

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Director General Stefano Baronci said: “The growth in air connectivity is encouraging. With post-pandemic recovery behind us, 2025 marked a shift from rebuilding capacity to preparing for sustained growth. With passenger volumes across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East projected to reach 11 billion within the next three decades, it is increasingly important that we continue to strengthen connectivity so that aviation can deliver greater choice for passengers and wider economic benefits.”

Hub connectivity

Dubai International Airport once again emerged as the region’s leading hub, with a hub connectivity score close to 40% higher than its nearest competitor. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Hamad International Airport, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport follow.

Early momentum for 2026: a complex year marked by geopolitical instability and economic challenges

Despite economic shocks from conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and changes in US trade policy, Asia-Pacific direct connectivity remained positive, with modest growth of 0.5% in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025. The Middle East, by contrast, contracted sharply, down 23% as geopolitical conflict in the region forced airlines to cut schedules and reroute around affected airspace.

(Source: ACI)

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It marks the first time the world’s premier airport experience event will be held in Oceania.

The announcement caps a week of high-level collaboration hosted by iGA Istanbul Airport, bringing together around 800 participants from around the globe and featuring more than 60 expert speakers across nearly 20 sessions and panels. 

ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “We leave Istanbul with proof that a human-centred approach is already proving its value in airports on every continent. Passengers will always remember how an airport made them feel, and ACI World is here to support every airport in creating that memorable journey. We thank iGA Istanbul for their extraordinary hospitality, and we can’t wait to bring this work to Melbourne next year.”

Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said: “We are pleased to welcome the 2027 ACI World Airport Experience Summit to Melbourne and Australia. Melbourne Airport is Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway and is embarking on an ambitious expansion programme with a new runway, an expanded international terminal and new ground transport facilities to cater for the growing demand for air travel.”

Key Summit takeaways

Human-Centred Travel as a Strategic Priority: Airport, travel and CX leaders explored how genuine hospitality, wellbeing and accessibility can create more inclusive, memorable journeys.

People Power Performance: Discussions in the Talent & Growth Seminar and across the Summit highlighted the essential role of employee experience, organisational culture, and training in delivering excellent service and building passenger trust.

Technology with a Human Purpose: Artificial intelligence, robotics, digital wayfinding and real-time data were positioned as tools to make journeys more seamless, intuitive and engaging.

Customer Experience Delivers Business Value: The programme demonstrated how experience-led strategies can improve passenger satisfaction while strengthening commercial performance.

The World’s Best Airports: A highlight of the event was the celebratory Gala Dinner, which recognised more than 100 airports for receiving ASQ Customer Experience Awards, sponsored by SITA, or achieving Airport Customer Experience Accreditation.

20 Years of Excellence: The event also commemorated the 20th anniversary of ACI’s ASQ programme, the world’s leading airport passenger satisfaction benchmarking programme and the foundation of the ASQ Customer Experience Awards.

(Source: ACI)

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AAHK has continued to implement its Ascend sustainability strategy, focusing on 24 strategic goals across four sustainability pillars: Environmental Excellence, Operational Excellence, Thriving Economies and Societies, and Thriving People.

Highlights of this year’s Sustainability Report

Overview

HKIA’s Flood Resilience Studies were honoured with the highest Platinum award at the Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East Green Airports Recognition 2026.

For the first time, the Sustainability Report incorporated a Nature-related Financial Disclosure Statement, making HKIA one of the first airports in Asia to adopt the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.

AAHK strengthened its double materiality assessment, which identifies sustainability-related impacts, risks, and opportunities for stakeholders and the authority, through an in-depth review of the global risk context, value chain mapping, and megatrend analysis.

Environmental excellence

AAHK achieved a target to increase its recyclables recovery rate by 25% by 2025 against a 2018 baseline, demonstrating its commitment to waste management.

Completed deployment and monitoring of 500 additional artificial reef units in North Lantau waters to provide additional shelter and nursery grounds for marine species.

Thriving economies and societies

New passenger departure facilities and the Coach Hall at the expanded Terminal 2 (T2) were commissioned, strengthening HKIA’s capacity to meet growing passenger demand while enhancing passenger experience.

Launched the “Park & Fly” and “Park & Visit” services. “Park & Fly” allows eligible vehicles from Guangdong and Macao to travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to an automated car park adjacent to HKIA for onward flights worldwide. In contrast, “Park & Visit” allows travellers arriving by car via the HZMB to park at designated facilities and conveniently visit destinations across Hong Kong.

Operational excellence

Conducted 36 drills and exercises, including a full-scale passenger departures trial at T2 and an aircraft crash and rescue exercise, as well as 79 training sessions and workshops, covering various operational and emergency scenarios to reinforce HKIA’s ability to operate reliably under a wide range of conditions.

Substantially completed Phase 2 of the Digital Apron and Tower Management System, installing eight additional cameras across the Three-runway System (3RS) to strengthen real-time monitoring, situational awareness and operational planning.

Implemented the Arrival Baggage Tracking System and launched a real-time visualisation dashboard at Terminal 1 baggage halls to track baggage movement from aircraft stands.

Completed the first phase development of a human-like customer service avatar powered by a Generative Artificial Intelligence system to handle trilingual passenger enquiries.

Thriving people

AAHK enhanced the Staff Recognition Programme with a structured, three-tier recognition framework to strengthen our culture of appreciation across the organisation.

Over 94,000 hours of in-person and online training were conducted, including sessions delivered by managerial staff who share their expertise on diverse topics to broaden perspectives and support professional development

(Source: AAHK)

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