According to the foreign Air Transport Association (Iata), Middle Eastern airlines had an unusual drop in passenger demand in March 2025 as foreign demand decreased by 1.0% year over year. In contrast to worldwide trends, where overall passenger demand, expressed in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased by 3.3% from March 2024, the regional passenger demand reduction was less pronounced.
Even if the region’s airlines utilize their strategic hub status and operational resilience, this decline, largely due to the timing of the holy month of Ramadan, highlights the challenges they face in a competitive international market.
According to Iata statistics, Middle Eastern carriers had a 2.8% annual growth in capacity, as shown by available seat kilometres (ASK). However, the load factor, a key indicator of seat occupancy, declined sharply to 74.6%, representing a 2.9 percentage point decrease from March 2024.
International demand increased by 4.9% globally, with Asia-Pacific carriers leading the way with a gain of 9.9%. The Middle East, on the other hand, performed poorly, underscoring the region’s susceptibility to cultural and economic influences. Iata’s director general, Willie Walsh, stated that although demand for air travel increased by 2.7% globally in February, capacity expansion exceeded demand, resulting in lower load factors.
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