Middle Eastern airlines experience increase in demand

Middle Eastern carriers reported an 8.7% year-on-year increase in demand according to a new report. The capacity increased 3.9% compared to the previous year, resulting in a load factor of 81%, as stated in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) report regarding passenger demand for November.

According to the report, global total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), grew by 8.1% from November 2023, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 5.7%. The overall load factor for November was 83.4%.

International demand rose 11.6% against the same month in the previous year, attributed to solid performance by carriers in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and an 8.6% increase in capacity.

Statement by Willie Walsh

“November was another month of strong growth in the demand for air travel with an overall expansion of 8.1%. It’s also a reminder of the supply chain issues that are preventing airlines from acquiring the necessary aircraft to meet growing demand.”

Willie Walsh added, “Capacity growth is lagging demand by 2.4 percentage points. Airlines are missing out on opportunities to better serve customers due to delays in aircraft deliveries.”

Regional Growth

All areas displayed growth in international passenger traffic when comparing November 2023 to November 2024. Europe achieved the highest load factors (85.0%), while Asia-Pacific led in demand growth with 19.9%.

Air Cargo Demand

Additionally, the IATA report revealed that the demand for air cargo from Middle Eastern carriers increased by 3.6% year-on-year in November, contrasting with a 0.6% decrease in capacity.

Conclusion: Overall, the report indicates a robust demand for air travel and suggests that airlines must align capacity growth with demand to optimize their services.