Public-private partnerships are vital to developing Asian port infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank says that needs in developing Asia and the Pacific will exceed US$22.6 trillion through 2030, or US$1.5 trillion per year, if the region is to maintain growth.

As Southeast Asian countries trade more with each other and do less long haul exporting, Thailand is taking the approach of acting as a gateway to the region.

Edmonton International Airport is looking to position itself as a distribution hub for North America, citing its overland connectivity to both the United States and Canada among its advantages.

The rapid growth of B2C e-commerce has translated into a steep rise in demand for air cargo, but the sheer amount of this traffic is posing a challenge for some airports.