The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
‘Build an airport that can adapt.’ Alton Aviation’s Mabel Kwan on APAC financing
Alton Aviation’s Mabel Kwan on who will finance Asia Pacific’s share of US$2.4 trillion in global airport spending, and why new airports must be built to adapt
AeroTime sat down with Mabel Kwan, Managing Director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, after a Passenger Terminal Expo Asia 2026 session in Singapore to discuss financing the region’s airport future.
Kwan outlined a global-scale challenge, noting about US$2.4 trillion will be invested in airport infrastructure worldwide, with a large share in Asia Pacific as the region is poised to drive more than half of aviation growth over the coming decades.
She described airports as national strategic assets whose connectivity has a multiplier effect on the economy, complicating financing because these projects are long-term and often expansive, requiring sustainable funding beyond quick fixes.
Kwan argued for pacing development to avoid overbuilding before demand arrives, citing Singapore as an example of a high-importance airport maintaining edge through ongoing investment, while many smaller cities should adopt a modular, phased expansion approach.
Her core advice emphasized future-proofing by building airports that can adapt rather than relying on fixed technology bets, and cautioned against over-reliance on benchmarks for non-aeronautical revenue without considering local catchments and shifting passenger behavior.