JEDDAH: Middle Eastern airlines recorded the second-highest passenger traffic growth globally in August, rising 8.4 percent year on year, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite geopolitical tensions, the International Air Transport Association said.
According to IATA’s latest Air Passenger Monthly Analysis, global traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPK, rose 4.6 percent year on year in August, slightly above July’s 4.1 percent, bringing total RPK to 896 billion.
The growth in Middle Eastern airlines reflects broader regional efforts to bolster aviation as a key pillar of economic diversification, particularly in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
IATA noted that the August performance closely matched its forecast of 8.7 percent growth presented at the association’s 81st Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, where airlines in the Middle East were also projected to generate a net profit of $6.2 billion in 2025, slightly up from $6.1 billion in 2024. Revenue per passenger was expected at $27.20.
“Middle Eastern airlines saw international traffic rise by 8.2 percent YoY in August. Capacity grew 6.9 percent YoY and PLF edged up one percentage point to 83.9 percent,” the IATA report said.
