Cushman & Wakefield’s new report draws on the firm’s airport advisory work across Asia, Europe and the United States, showing how integrated real estate planning can build more resilient revenue streams, attract investment and support surrounding communities.
HCMC, 28 October 2026 – Airports can create economic and social value well beyond the movement of people and goods, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s new report, Unlocking Value from Transport Infrastructure: Airports at the Centre of Economic Development. The report examines how airport land and real estate can support regional growth when planned as part of an integrated, long-term strategy.
Airports bring together complex operational, commercial and real estate functions. The report looks at these through three interconnected areas: terminal activities such as retail, food and beverage, and lounges; airside facilities that support aviation, cargo and maintenance; and landside development, including logistics, offices, hotels and mixed-use precincts.
A coordinated approach can help airport owners develop alternative income streams while supporting airlines, occupiers, investors and surrounding communities. It can also align land use, investment and development timing with operational needs and local market conditions.
Inside terminals, passenger movement and dwell time can influence commercial performance. Data-led design and flexible leasing approaches can help airports make retail and service spaces more productive while improving the passenger experience. Airside land, meanwhile, is limited and difficult to repurpose once committed. Decisions about facilities for cargo, maintenance and other aviation-related uses need to account for future operational requirements, technological change and long-term maintenance.
Beyond airport boundaries, phased landside development can support employment, business investment and placemaking. Potential uses include logistics parks, business districts, hotels, retail and mixed-use precincts. Successful development depends on understanding each airport’s role, local demand, infrastructure capacity and stakeholder priorities.
Sustainability is another strategic consideration. The report notes that aviation, including airports, accounts for about 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions. Airports can influence emissions through their infrastructure, energy use and ground operations. Sustainability measures can also support operational efficiency, resilience and investment appeal over an asset’s lifetime.
The report reflects Cushman & Wakefield’s experience advising on airport development and commercial real estate across several regions. Its work includes long-term strategic advisory for Shanghai’s Hongqiao Transportation Hub; development advisory for Port Polska in Poland and Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States; and landside development strategy studies for seven airports in India. The firm has also assessed commercial revenue forecasts and property portfolio performance at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in the United Kingdom, and has provided asset and community management at Dublin Airport Central since 2019.
“Vietnam is entering a significant new phase in aviation infrastructure, with Gia Binh being developed to serve the Hanoi capital region and Long Thanh set to begin commercial operations in late 2026. These projects create an opportunity to look beyond airport capacity alone. Coordinated planning for transport connections, commercial uses and surrounding development can help each airport support broader economic growth and deliver lasting value to its region,” said Minh Hoang, Country Head of Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam.
The report concludes that airport development is most effective when treated as a long-term, interconnected system. A clear vision, market analysis and careful phasing can help owners make investment decisions that support airport performance and wider regional development.
