Friday, March 28, 2025
Singapore solidifies its position as Asia’s top business travel hub in 2024, driving growth with strong connectivity, strategic location, and pro-business policies.
Business travel has made a robust comeback in 2025, driven by several key factors, including evolving remote work trends, the integration of artificial intelligence, digital transformations, geopolitical shifts, and the growing blend of leisure and business travel. Asia Pacific (APAC), with its dynamic economy and growing market influence, has emerged as a primary driver of this resurgence. Insights from BCD’s Cities & Trends 2025 Asia Pacific report shed light on the region’s top destinations, offering a comprehensive view of business travel patterns based on flight data from 2024.
APAC Dominates Global Business Travel Growth
According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)’s Business Travel Outlook Poll for 2025, the APAC region led global business travel expenditure growth in 2024. An impressive 78% of APAC travel buyers reported an uptick in trips, with 30% seeing a significant rise. This signals the region’s leading role in shaping the future of global business travel, highlighting a robust recovery after the pandemic and strong market optimism moving forward.
Top Business Travel Destinations in APAC
In terms of popular business travel destinations within APAC, Singapore remains the unrivaled leader. The city-state has seen a 20% increase in business travelers from the previous year. Its strategic location, thriving economy, pro-business policies, low corporate taxes, and visa-free access for many nationalities contribute to its dominance. These factors make Singapore a key business hub in the region, attracting both business travelers and meeting/event organizers.
Tokyo follows closely in second place, with a notable 38% growth in 2024. Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur also feature prominently in the rankings. Interestingly, Sydney has entered the list, ranking at No. 10, highlighting its rising prominence as a business travel destination.
The Global Appeal of Intercontinental Cities
Intercontinental business travel continues to rise, with major cities across North America and Europe leading the charge. Frankfurt, London, and San Francisco top the list, cementing their position as global business hubs. Notably, San Francisco and New York City continue to capture the attention of business travelers, reflecting the enduring significance of North America in the global trade and business ecosystem.
APAC’s Role in Flight Transactions
In 2024, Singapore maintained its position as the most-visited country in APAC, driven by visa-free policies with neighboring Southeast Asian countries, growing flight seat capacity, and competitive airfare pricing. China and Japan closely follow Singapore, while Malaysia has made a notable leap into the top five. Overall, APAC has surpassed its 2019 seat capacity, signaling strong post-pandemic growth. APAC has emerged as the world’s second-largest market for international travel, underscoring its strategic importance in the global tourism and business travel landscape.
The U.S. continues to lead the intercontinental flight transaction rankings, with major destinations like the U.S., the U.K., and Germany maintaining their global appeal.
Popular Business Travel Routes in APAC
BCD’s flight data reveals that the busiest routes within APAC are primarily centered around Singapore. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific lead in terms of international seat capacity. Singapore Airlines, in particular, has exceeded its 2019 capacity by 14.1%, reflecting its ongoing expansion.
Among intercontinental routes, Bengaluru to Frankfurt has taken the top spot, further highlighting India’s growing influence in global business travel. Notably, the route between Shanghai and San Francisco has surged to No. 10 from No. 17 in 2023, signaling the rise of Asia-Pacific as a pivotal player in intercontinental business travel.
India’s international airline capacity hit 7.3 million seats in April 2024, marking a 17% increase over 2019 levels. This, combined with rising passenger demand and government initiatives, solidifies India’s position as a key global aviation hub.
Direct Flights vs. Connecting Flights
Direct flights remain the most favored choice for APAC travelers, with 89% of flights being non-stop. For intercontinental routes, however, only 25% of flights are direct, highlighting the complexity and cost of long-haul travel. In terms of layovers, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok are the top layover cities for APAC flights, while Dubai, Doha, and Frankfurt are the key layover cities for intercontinental journeys.
Class Preferences: Economy vs. Premium Options
In terms of cabin class, the majority of APAC business travelers opt for economy class, with 84% choosing this option. Business class is the second most popular choice, accounting for about 15% of bookings, with premium economy seats remaining relatively stable at around 1.4%. Intercontinental travel shows a more balanced split between economy and business class, with both categories seeing roughly 45% of the bookings. Premium economy has seen a slight rise, while first-class travel remains minimal but slightly increased at 0.37%.
Looking Ahead: Strong Outlook for APAC Business Travel
Looking to the future, APAC’s business travel outlook is incredibly positive. The GBTA reports that 63% of APAC travel buyers plan to increase their travel budgets in 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the market. This surge is driven by factors such as the return of large-scale conferences, a strong increase in leisure + business travel, and the reopening of key destinations like China. Increased airline and hotel capacity are also contributing to the region’s travel boom.
APAC is well-positioned to continue its dominance in business travel, with an evolving network of airports, more direct flight options, and competitive fares that further enhance its appeal. As global businesses seek to expand their reach and foster international collaboration, APAC’s growth trajectory remains strong, ensuring it remains a central player in the global business travel landscape.
