Airlines in the Middle East recorded a 3.3% year-on-year rise in passenger demand this February, reflecting the region’s accelerating efforts to transform its aviation sector. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), total flight capacity across the region also grew by 1.3% during the same period.
The latest figures align with national strategies — such as Saudi Arabia’s aviation masterplan — aimed at tripling passenger volumes by 2030 and reducing oil dependency through tourism and transport growth.
“The number of scheduled flights is set to continue increasing in March and April,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. “February traffic hit an all-time high.”
Middle Eastern carriers filled 82% of their available seat capacity last month, up 1.6 percentage points from February 2024 — a strong signal of optimized operations and sustained passenger demand. The region accounted for 9.4% of global air passengers in February, maintaining its share from January.
Global Performance & Regional Standouts
IATA reported a 2.6% rise in overall global passenger demand in February, while international travel specifically grew by 5.6% year-on-year. However, domestic demand contracted by 1.9%.
Among regions, Asia-Pacific led with a 9.5% increase in international passenger demand, followed by Africa (+6.8%) and Latin America (+4.6%). Europe saw a 4.3% gain, while North America lagged with a 3.2% decline in total passenger traffic.
Notably, Middle Eastern airlines saw international passenger demand climb 3.1% in February. Their load factor reached 81.9%, up 1.4 points from last year.
The sector is also gaining altitude through new entrants like Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Set to begin flights in 2025, the airline aims to reach 100 destinations by the end of the decade and has placed major aircraft orders, including 60 Airbus A321neo jets.
Cargo Market Shows Mixed Signals
While passenger travel trends remain strong, air cargo in the Middle East saw an 11.9% year-on-year decline in February — the steepest global drop — with capacity down 4%, IATA reported in a separate release.
Globally, air cargo demand slipped by 0.1%, marking the first decline since mid-2023. Walsh attributed this to a combination of leap year effects, Chinese New Year demand spikes, and shifting trade conditions.
Despite regional cargo headwinds, the global trade environment showed signs of recovery. The industrial production index rose 3.2% year-on-year in February, while world trade expanded by 5%.
With commercial airline fleets in the Middle East expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% until 2035 — nearly double the global average — the region remains poised to become one of the world’s leading aviation hubs.
