Air traffic in the Middle East increased by 4.4% in September, and global passenger demand reached a record high, according to IATA
Middle East airlines saw a 4.4% increase in passenger traffic in September 2024, compared to the same month last year. This matches the highest global air traffic levels for the month, based on data shared by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Thursday.
Passenger traffic and capacity
Passenger numbers grew, with airlines in the Middle East increasing their capacity by 4.6%. However, the load factor, which shows how full the flights were, dropped slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 81.4% in September compared to the previous year.
The IATA report revealed that global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 7.1% in September, reaching a record high compared to the same month last year.
Global airline capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), grew by 5.8% in September. The load factor for global flights was 83.6%.
For international flights, passenger demand rose by 9.2% in September compared to the previous year. Airline capacity increased by 9.1%, and the load factor went up to 83.8%.
Overall, global air travel demand grew by 3.7% compared to September 2023, with capacity rising by 0.7%. The load factor was 83.3%.
The report also showed that all regions saw growth in international passenger traffic in September. Europe had the highest load factors, while airlines in Asia and Africa also saw improvements. However, the Americas and the Middle East experienced declines in load factors.
Important quote
“The busy travel season ended with the highest demand ever. This is great news for passengers and the global economy. Every flight creates more jobs and trade. However, the success of air travel is also causing some challenges,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
“We may soon face a shortage of flight capacity in some areas, which could reduce these economic and social benefits. Governments will have to choose: either fall behind more active countries that prioritize global connections, or work together to ensure sustainable growth.”
Other regions
In Asia-Pacific, airlines saw an 18.5% increase in demand in September compared to last year. The number of available flights grew by 17.7%, and the load factor (the percentage of seats filled) was 82.6%.
European airlines had a 7.6% increase in demand, with a 7.4% rise in available flights. Their load factor was 85.9%.
North American airlines had only a small 0.5% increase in demand, while their capacity grew by 1.9%, and the load factor was 84.4%.
Latin American airlines saw a 12.4% rise in demand, with a 13.9% increase in capacity. The load factor was 84.3%.
African airlines experienced an 11.9% rise in demand, with capacity growing by 6.6%. The load factor increased to 76%.
Published: 6th November 2024
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