Middle East carriers record strongest traffic growth

Dubai: Middle East carriers continued to show growth, with a 14 per cent year-over-year traffic growth in October, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday. The capacity for the region’s carriers rose 13.9 per cent in the month while load factor was steady at 75.5 per cent,

“Airlines in the region have benefited from strong demand for business-related premium travel, particularly to developing markets such as Africa. Solid performance of key economies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE has also supported strong expansion in business and leisure travel,” IATA said in a statement.

The aviation watchdog said in its September report that Middle East carriers recorded a 10.4 per cent year-on-year traffic growth, on the back of economies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE showing sustained growth in non-oil producing sectors and increases in new export orders.

International passenger demand in October 2013 grew by 6.9 per cent over the same period a year ago, with airlines in all regions registering growth. Capacity climbed 6.6 per cent and load factor rose 0.2 per cent to 78.4 per cent, as per the statement. Meanwhile, total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) climbed 6.6 per cent compared to October last year.

Asia-Pacific carriers continued to grow with a 7.8 per cent increase in October compared to the corresponding period last year, while European carriers’ international traffic grew by 5.4 per cent for the same month.

African carriers, meanwhile, saw traffic rise by 3.5 per cent — the slowest growth for any region. Capacity was up 8.7 per cent, which led to a 3.3 per cent decline in load factor to 66.1 per cent — the lowest for any region.

North American carriers saw demand grow by 3.6 per cent, compared to October 2012.

Also, Latin American carriers posted a 8.3 per cent increase in demand in October, supported by solid trade growth and business-related travel.

In 2013, the airline industry is expected to carry more than 3 billion passengers in a year, according to Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of IATA.