Middle East air passenger growth slows

Dubai: Air traffic growth in the Middle East in August slowed considerably from the double-digit increase seen in passenger numbers during the first half of this year, according to an industry group on Tuesday.

The regional slowdown is in line with the continuing drop in global cross-border passenger movement. "Middle Eastern carriers saw traffic growth drop to 4.3 per cent following 5.3 per cent in July and below the 10.6 per cent recorded during the first six months of the year," the International Air Transport Association said.