The Middle East aviation market has grown by 5% since 2019, making it the second-fastest-growing region globally. This growth is driven by a combination of Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) expansion and Legacy Carrier capacity, according to the latest analysis from  travel data provider OAG’s new report, “Middle East Skies: A New Era of Competition, Capacity, and Growth.”

 

Emirates and Qatar Airways are among the top 20 global airlines by capacity and the top 10 by available seat kilometers. The top three carriers by group position are Emirates Group, Saudia Group, and Qatar Airways, which operated 127 million departing seats in 2024.

 

Flynas, the fastest-growing airline in the region, posted a 63% capacity increase for 2024 compared to 2019, making it the fastest-growing airline in the region. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) now make up 29% of all Middle East capacity, more than doubling from 13% in 2014. Over the past decade, LCC capacity has grown at an 11.5% annual average, far outpacing traditional carriers.

 

Egypt dominates LCC routes in the growing African market, with 96% of flyadeal's African capacity being to Egypt. Full-service and legacy carriers in the region rely heavily on connecting traffic, with 84% of Qatar Airways passengers, 77% for Etihad, and 66% for Emirates. Competitive hotspots include the Cairo-Riyadh (CAI-RUH) route, Dubai-Riyadh (DXB-RUH), and Cairo-Jeddah (CAI-JED).

 

Filip Filipov, COO of OAG commented:“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.” -TradeArabia News Service