Adelaide Airport has been named the Overall Winner at the Routes Asia 2026 Awards, recognising excellence in airport and destination marketing across the region. The awards were presented on 14 April 2026 during Routes Asia held in Xi’an, China.
The Australian airport also retained the top spot in the 5 to 20 million passengers category for the second consecutive year, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s fastest-growing aviation hubs.
Strong Growth and New Routes Drive Adelaide’s Win
Adelaide Airport handled 9 million passengers in 2025, marking a 21 percent year-on-year increase and exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Key developments include:
- First nonstop U.S. service with United Airlines to San Francisco
- Indonesia AirAsia launching Bali services
- Cathay Pacific resuming Hong Kong flights
- China Southern Airlines extending Guangzhou flights to year-round
Jonathan Cheong, Head of Aviation Business Development and Commercial at Adelaide Airport, credited airline partnerships for the achievement, highlighting their role in expanding connectivity and supporting trade and tourism in South Australia.
Other Winners at Routes Asia 2026
Four additional winners were recognised across airport, destination and airline categories.
Langkawi International Airport (Under 5 Million Passengers)
Langkawi handled approximately 2.9 million passengers in 2025, up nearly 12 percent, supported by a 17 percent increase in seat capacity. The airport expanded to seven airlines and added routes including Warsaw, Tashkent and Chengdu.
Melbourne Airport (Over 20 Million Passengers)
Melbourne Airport recorded 37 million passengers in 2025. Growth highlights include:
- 902,000 additional long-haul seats
- Expansion to 42 airlines
- New routes including Delta Air Lines from Los Angeles and Shenzhen Airlines from Shenzhen
Sanya Tourism Board (Destination)
Sanya strengthened its global connectivity with:
- 43 international routes
- Connections to 33 cities across 18 countries and regions
International tourism surged, with inbound overnight visitors rising 41.4 percent year-on-year to more than 1.06 million in 2025.
Qantas Airways (Airline)
Qantas continued its network expansion post-pandemic, adding:
- 40 domestic routes
- 14 domestic destinations
- 25 international routes
- 12 international destinations
The airline also plans three new international routes in 2026, including its first scheduled service between Australia and Las Vegas.
How Winners Were Judged
Airport and destination finalists were evaluated by a panel of airline judges, while the airline category was assessed by editorial judges.
| Category | Winner | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Winner | Adelaide Airport | 9M passengers, +21% YoY, new U.S. route |
| 5–20M Passengers | Adelaide Airport | Second consecutive win |
| Under 5M Passengers | Langkawi International Airport | 2.9M passengers, +12% growth |
| Over 20M Passengers | Melbourne Airport | 37M passengers, record traffic |
| Destination | Sanya Tourism Board | 43 routes, +41.4% tourism growth |
| Airline | Qantas Airways | 40+ domestic, 25 international routes |