Middle East airline traffic up 9.7% in May: IATA

IATA released data for May 2024, showing increased passenger traffic across the world.

IATA data for May 2024 global passenger demand, revealed a 10.7 per cent increase in total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), compared to May 2023.

Middle East airline traffic

Meanwhile, total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 8.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY). The May load factor was 83.4 per cent (+1.7ppt compared to May 2023), a record high for May.

International demand rose 14.6 per cent compared to May 2023. Capacity was up 14.1 per cent YoY and the load factor improved to 82.8 per cent (+0.3ppt on May 2023).

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9 per cent year-on-year and the load factor increased 0.5ppt to 80.7 per cent compared to May 2023.

Asian routes to the Middle East are particularly strong, now standing some 32 per cent higher than in 2019.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, said: “Strong demand for travel continues with airlines posting a 10.7 per cent YoY increase in travel for May. Airlines filled 83.4 per cent of their seats, a record for the month.

“With May ticket sales for early peak-season travel up nearly 6 percent, the growth trend shows no signs of abating. Airlines are doing everything they can to ensure smooth journeys for all travellers over the peak northern summer period.

“But our expectations of air navigation service providers (ANSPs) are already being tested. With 5.2 million minutes of air traffic control delays racked up in Europe even before the peak season begins, it is clear that Europe’s ANSPs have unresolved challenges.

“And the 32,000 flight delays over the Memorial Day weekend in May show that challenges persist in the US too. Airlines are accountable to their customers; ANSPs must be as well. ANSP performance matters to their airline customers and to millions of travellers. We all need them to do their job efficiently”.