Middle East airlines report 9.4%...

Increase comes as global air traffic demand reaches record high

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released 2024 passenger market performance showing record high demand, with international traffic up 13.6% compared to 2023.

Domestic traffic also rose 5.7%, giving an overall total of 10.4%, up 3.8% on 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

The figures are based on Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), which measures volume by multiplying the number of passengers by distance flown. Total capacity, in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 8.7%, and overall load factor reached a record 83.5%.

“Last year [2024] made it absolutely clear that people want to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, who was previously CEO of Aer Lingus and British Airways.

“With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5% of all seats on offer were filled, a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth.”

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.4% traffic rise in 2024 compared to 2023, with capacity increasing 8.4% and load factor rising 0.7% to 80.8%.

As reported, the UAE’s Dubai International airport (DXB) welcomed a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024, marking the busiest-ever year for the airport.

An annual increase of nearly 6%, the numbers surpass DXB’s previous record set in 2018 when 89 million passengers passed through its terminals.

“Looking to 2025, there is every indication that demand for travel will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8.0% that is more aligned with historical averages,” said Walsh

One of the challenges facing the industry is the commitment from airlines to reach net zero emissions by 2050. While airlines invested more than ever in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2024, it still accounted for less than 0.5% of fuel used.

“SAF is in short supply and costs must come down,” said Walsh. “Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritising renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived.”

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 – being held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April to 1 May – will address key trends shaping the future of aviation, with a spotlight on SAF.

For more information, visit www.iata.org

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