Dubai, UAE: The Middle East’s aviation sector is experiencing a period of significant expansion, emerging as the world’s second-fastest growing region for air travel, according to a new report from OAG, a leading travel data provider.
The analysis, titled “Middle East Skies: A New Era of Competition, Capacity and Growth,” reveals a robust 5% increase in the region’s aviation market since 2019, trailing only South Asia’s impressive 12% growth.
This surge is being propelled by the dynamic rise of low-cost carriers alongside the sustained capacity of established network airlines.
The report highlights the continued dominance of major players such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, both ranking within the top 20 global airlines by capacity and the top 10 by Available Seat Kilometers in 2024.
Together with Saudia Group, these three aviation powerhouses operated a staggering 127 million departing seats this year, underscoring their significant regional influence.
However, the most compelling narrative emerging from the OAG analysis is the transformative impact of low-cost carriers (LCCs). Notably, flynas has emerged as the region’s fastest-growing airline, boasting an impressive 63% increase in capacity for 2024 compared to 2019.
Following closely is flydubai, with a substantial 56% growth. Both carriers now operate nearly 14.4 million departing seats each, with flynas holding a slight edge of approximately 25,000 seats. This rapid expansion has led to a significant reshaping of the Middle Eastern aviation landscape.
LCCs now account for 29% of the total capacity in the region, more than doubling their 13% share from a decade ago in 2014. Over the past ten years, the capacity of low-cost carriers in the Middle East has grown at an average annual rate of 11.5%, significantly outpacing the growth of traditional airlines.
The OAG report also identifies key trends within this dynamic market. Egypt stands out as a crucial destination for LCCs expanding into the African market. Notably, 96% of flyadeal’s African capacity is directed towards Egypt, while flynas allocates 81% of its African capacity to the same destination.
Similarly, 73% of Air Arabia’s Middle East to Africa capacity focuses on routes to Egypt. In contrast, full-service and legacy carriers in the region heavily rely on connecting traffic to sustain their operations.
For instance, a significant 84% of Qatar Airways’ passengers are connecting travelers, followed by 77% for Etihad and 66% for Emirates.
Competition remains fierce on key routes within the region. The Cairo–Riyadh (CAI–RUH) corridor is identified as one of the most competitive, with eight airlines currently operating on this route. Dubai-Riyadh (DXB-RUH) and Cairo-Jeddah (CAI-JED) also exhibit high levels of competition.
Interestingly, the Dubai to London Heathrow (DXB-LHR) route presents a more concentrated market, with four airlines vying for passengers.
Filip Filipov, COO of OAG, commented on the findings, stating, “The Middle East region’s strategic position as a global hub, coupled with the dynamic expansion of both low-cost and network carriers, is driving unprecedented opportunities. This vibrant market is setting the stage for future advancements in aviation technology and passenger experience, and at OAG, we are thrilled to support this evolution.”
