During the first 11 months of 2013 global passenger traffic demand touched maximum 6.8 per cent growth in August while Middle East carriers reached 15.6 per cent growth in March according to an article in Gulf News.
Globally year-to-date international passengers demand growth till November was 5.1 per cent while Middle East witnessed more than 12 per cent.
In November, airlines in the region achieved a 9.7 per cent year-on-year demand growth — strongest among all regions. No other region in the world witnessed a double-digit growth in November.
“Airlines in the region have benefited from strong growth in business-related premium travel throughout the year, particularly to Africa and other developing markets,” the apex body of aviation said in a statement. Capacity of the regional airlines rose 12.8 per cent and load factor slipped two percentage points to 72.1 per cent, the statement added.
Last month, IATA announced an upward revision to its industry financial outlook for 2013 and prediction for 2014. “Middle East: Middle East airlines are expected to return a net profit of $1.6 billion in 2013, increasing to $2.4 billion in 2014. The region’s hubs, particularly in the Gulf, continue to expand in support of growing long-haul connectivity,” according to the aviation body.
Global growth
In its latest announcement for November 2013, Iata announced global passenger traffic results showing a moderation in the pace of recent demand growth. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 4.1 per cent compared to November 2012. This was slower than the 6.5 per cent year-over-year growth recorded in October.
In November capacity expanded by 6.1 per cent, which out-paced demand growth. This led to a 1.4 percentage point slip in the load factor to 76.3 per cent. Demand drivers such as consumer and business confidence, however, continue to improve. This suggests that growth may accelerate in the coming months.
“Demand growth hit a speed bump in November. But with continued modest improvements in economic conditions the outlook remains positive,” Iata director-general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said in the statement.
On 1 January 2014, commercial aviation celebrated its 100th birthday. From one airplane, one passenger, one pilot and one route across Tampa Bay, Florida, the global airline industry now carries more than 8 million passengers on more than 80,000 departures each day and supports 57 million jobs.
“Aviation drives the global economy. We connect people and businesses to markets; and bring together friends and families. Aviation creates opportunities for greater cultural understanding and carries medicine and supplies to those in need. In a single century, the industry has had a transformative impact on the way in which we live and interact. And it has firmly established itself as a force for good in our world,” Tyler said.
“But aviation is also a team effort. Ensuring that the second century is as successful as the first requires the cooperation of stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. As we reflect on an amazing first hundred years, I hope that governments will take stock of the wide-reaching economic and social benefits of aviation-enabled connectivity. These far outstrip any short-term boosts to treasury revenues generated through taxes or fees,” Tyler added.
