Middle East airlines report lowest demand rise

Middle Eastern carriers reported a 2.2 percent year-on-year increase in passenger demand in October, the lowest across all regions, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

Capacity increased 2.5 percent, while the load factor fell marginally lower at 80.2 percent year on year, Iata reported.

Asia-Pacific airlines reported the highest year-on-year increase in demand at 17.5 percent. Capacity increased 17.2 percent annually, with load factor up slightly to 82.9 percent year on year.

Demand rose 10.9 percent and 10.4 percent for Latin American and African airlines, respectively.

Overall, total global demand – measured in revenue passenger kilometres – rose 7.1 percent compared to October 2023, Iata said.

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, was up 6.1 percent year on year. The October load factor reached 83.9 percent.

“Average seat factors have risen from around 67 percent in the 1990s to over 83 percent today,” said Iata director general Willie Walsh.

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In July, Capa, a Sydney-based provider of aviation market intelligence, said that Dubai and Jeddah account for almost 80 percent of current spending on airport development in the Middle East and North Africa.

Some 19 projects, ranging from expansions to additional runways and entire new airports, are underway in 11 countries across the region, Capa said.

These projects’ budgets total more than $80 billion – and $32 billion of that is being spent on Dubai World Central/Al Maktoum International.

Another $30.7 billion is going on King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah.