Middle East fliers' preference for premium travel unmatched, says IATA

Dubai: A report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted that travellers in the Middle East have the highest preference for premium air travel globally, with premium class passengers making up a significant 14.7 per cent of all international travellers in the region.

This is the highest percentage recorded across all areas, far exceeding the global average of 6 per cent.

The latest edition of the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) for 2024 revealed that while international premium class travel grew by 11.8 per cent worldwide—outpacing the 11.5 per cent growth in economy travel—the Middle East stands out for its high proportion of premium fliers. This finding confirms the strong demand for business and first-class experiences in the region.

The report also revealed that growth in premium travel surpassed economy class travel in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and North America. While Europe remains the largest market by volume with 39.3 million premium passengers, the Middle East's high percentage of premium travellers underscores its unique position as a key hub for high-end air travel.

Recently, Dubai Duty Free, the airport retailer, posted its highest-ever first-half sales, hitting Dh4.118 billion ($1.128 billion) from January to June 2025. A 5.34 per cent year-over-year jump, exceeding the previous record by Dh208.95 million ($57.24 million), these figures underscore the strong spending power of travellers passing through the UAE.

According to Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi, strong passenger traffic is only one part of the story. The real kicker? People are simply spending more per visit — likely a mix of post-pandemic travel excitement, luxury indulgence, and smart duty-free value-seeking.

“We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025,” said Cidambi. “The spend per passenger is likely to be better than last year. This performance is a testament to our team’s hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.”

The IATA report also provided insight into the world's busiest air routes. The Asia Pacific region dominated this category, with Jeju-Seoul being the most popular route globally.

However, the Jeddah-Riyadh route was the only airport pair from outside Asia Pacific to make it into the top 10, highlighting its status as a major domestic corridor in the region.

Globally, narrowbody aircraft were the most frequently used in 2024. The Boeing 737 family led with 10 million flights, followed by the Airbus A320 and A321. The United States remains the world’s largest aviation market, with 876 million passengers, while China holds the second spot with 741 million passengers.