Korean Air Named 2025 Asia Airline of the Year as CAPA Honours Regional Aviation Excellence

Additional category winners included Cebu Pacific, Hong Kong International Airport, and Perth International Airport, representing the finest examples of strategic excellence across the Asia-Pacific aviation sector.

Regarded as the region's pre-eminent awards for strategic excellence in aviation, CAPA's Asia Aviation Awards for Excellence recognise airlines and airports that have demonstrated not only commercial success, but exceptional industry leadership in adapting to an evolving operational landscape.

The CAPA Awards for Excellence maintain their independence through rigorous evaluation processes that are neither influenced by customer surveys, nor by sponsorship arrangements.

Winners are selected through comprehensive independent research conducted by an international panel of expert judges and CAPA analysts.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Senior Director - Content & Marketing, Marco Navarria said: "The CAPA Asia Aviation Awards for Excellence represent our opportunity to celebrate and honour the pioneers of global aviation whilst also recognising genuine innovators who are reshaping the air travel sector. Our award recipients have distinguished themselves among their industry peers by spearheading transformational change and establishing new benchmarks for others to emulate".

The category winners include:

• Asia Airline of the Year: Korean Air
• Asia Airline Executive of the Year: Goh Choon Phong
• Asia Low Cost Airline of the Year: Cebu Pacific
• Asia Large Airport of the Year: Hong Kong International Airport
• Asia Small/Medium of the Year: Perth Airport

Asia Airline of the Year: Korean Air

CAPA - Centre for Aviation is pleased to announce Korean Air as its Asia-Pacific Airline of the Year. The award is given to the airline which has been the strategic standout in the Asia-Pacific during the year, and had the greatest impact on the regional airline industry.

Korean Air was selected by CAPA's panel of judges for the remarkable efforts it has made in completing its acquisition of its local rival Asiana Airways and the strategic plan it has formed for the merged airlines. Korean Air is using its merger with Asiana as the cornerstone of a wide-ranging enhancement, which encompasses everything from its branding, aircraft liveries and crew uniforms to its in-flight product, network planning and IT systems.

The merger will ultimately elevate Korean Air's global standing, solidifying its position among the world's top airlines in terms of traffic, revenue and network size.

While this promises to be a challenging prospect to achieve by the target date of early 2027, Korean Air has outlined a clear and methodical approach to the merger and adopting its new corporate identity. The ultimate outcome will be the formation of a new megacarrier that will change the competitive landscape of Asian aviation.

"Being awarded Asia Pacific Airline of the Year by CAPA is a meaningful validation of our entire team's dedication during this historic period of transformation," said Taejoon Kim, SVP and Head of International Affairs and Alliances at Korean Air. "We are fully committed to the successful integration of our airlines, with a clear focus on building a sustainable, top-tier global carrier that will set new standards for customer experience and enhance the regional aviation network."

Asia Airline Executive of the Year: Goh Choon Phong

CAPA - Centre for Aviation has named Goh Choon Phong as its Asia-Pacific Airline Executive of the Year. The award is given to the executive who CAPA feels has exerted the greatest individual influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of their business and the industry.

Long-time CEO at Singapore Airlines, Goh Choon Phong is among the most influential and far-sighted aviation leaders in the Asia-Pacific. Mr Goh not only managed to steer Singapore Airlines through the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has adroitly managed the strategic challenges that have emerged in the wake of the crisis.

Under Mr Goh's leadership, Singapore Airlines has been one of the most robust and consistently performing airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. Through its diversified network, multi-carrier operation and expansion of geographic reach through codeshare partners and strategic alliances, Singapore Airlines has shown itself able to adjust to changing passenger trends and global geopolitical shifts.

Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: "I would like to thank CAPA - Centre for Aviation for this recognition, and our customers, shareholders, and partners for their steadfast support. This award is a tribute to the resilience and dedication of everyone at Singapore Airlines. We remain firmly committed to innovation and service excellence, delivering world‑class experiences for our customers, and maintaining Singapore Airlines' industry‑leading position."

Asia Low Cost Airline of the Year: Cebu Pacific

CAPA - Centre for Aviation has named Cebu Pacific as its Asia-Pacific Low-Cost Airline of the Year. The award is given to the low-cost airline that has distinguished itself strategically, has shown itself a regional leader in the low cost market, and has demonstrated innovation in the regional aviation sector.

Now the largest airline in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific has managed an extraordinary combination of traffic growth and improving profitability in recent years. The airline's low-cost model has managed to connect the domestic market in the Philippines as never before, stimulating demand through low fares, new routes and clever fleet deployment.

The airline is also well positioned to take advantage of not only the increasing propensity to travel within the Philippines, but the country's reviving fortunes as a tourism destination.

Recent strategic investments in its fleet and network expansion under the leadership of CEO Mike Szucs are coming to fruition, with local economic growth, favourable demographics and expanding international travel producing a bright outlook for the low-cost carrier.

"We are deeply honored to receive this award from CAPA. It recognizes the passion and commitment of every Cebu Pacific employee who works hard each day to make flying safe, affordable, and accessible for our passengers," said Mike Szucs, CEB Chief Executive Officer. "As we expand our reach, our purpose remains clear-to connect people and communities, and to help fuel tourism and economic growth across the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific."

Asia Large Airport of the Year: Hong Kong International Airport

CAPA - Centre for Aviation has named Hong Kong International Airport as its Asia-Pacific Large Airport of the Year. The award is given to airport that has stood out strategically in the region through its leadership and support of the aviation sector, and has done the most to advance progress in aviation.

Hong Kong International Airport has been selected due to the completion of its Third Runway System project under its long-term 2030 Master Plan. The upgrade enhances Hong Kong's long-term position as key regional travel hub, expands its capacity to handle aircraft, passengers and cargo, and strengthens the airport's role as a major economic driver.

The project stood out from others in the region thanks to the ability of the Hong Kong Airport Authority and major contractors to maintain execution in the face of a variety of complications and political, environmental and public considerations.

The complex infrastructure plan saw extensive land reclamation, completion of the third runway in difficult conditions during 2022 and the reconfiguration and recommission of the Centre Runway in 2024. In addition, the airport has introduced a new people mover system, upgraded surface transportation infrastructure and is in the process of upgrading Terminal 2.

Overall, the Three Runway System project will transform Hong Kong International Airport into a true airport city, enhancing its position as a global aviation hub while also expanding its attractiveness as a regional economic centre.

Asia Small/Medium of the Year: Perth Airport

CAPA - Centre for Aviation has named Perth Airport as its Asia-Pacific Small/Medium Airport of the Year. The award is given to small to medium-sized airports that have shown standout strategic leadership, innovation and support of the aviation sector.

Perth Airport has shown that even in a mature market like Australia a combination of strategic flexibility, collaboration and willingness to invest can support rapid growth, improving passenger satisfaction, and expanded connectivity.

The airport managed not only to resolve a long-standing dispute with the dominant carrier Qantas in 2024, but has catalysed growth by committing to major capital investments.

This includes a new parallel runway, new terminal, upgrades to existing facilities and development of an engineering precinct. As a result, Qantas and Jetstar have committed to significant domestic and international expansions from the airport, making it Australia's fastest growing major airport.

Perth Airport is developing for the long term, with its 2026 Master Plan outlining investment plans of more than USD3.2 billion over the next 20 years to accommodate a 75% increase in passengers and a 40% increase in aircraft movements.

All of this will enhance Perth's role as one of Australia's major gateways to the world and the key hub for aviation in Western Australia.