Passenger numbers grow in Middle East

Date: 5/10/2009

Worldwide passenger demand for air travel fell in August, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Compared to the same month in the previous year, August 2009 saw a fall of 1.1 per cent.

Carriers from the Middle East, however, saw a year-on-year growth with demand expanding by 10.8 per cent.

African carriers had the weakest demand, falling by nearly five per cent in August.

As well as passengers, the Middle East also saw a rise in the amount of freight being carried by air.

Giovanni Bisignani, director general and chief executive of the IATA, said: "The industry is not out of the woods yet.

"Even with improving demand, there are few bright spots in the industry. This must point us to the need for some fundamental rethinking."

Late last month, Dubai International Airport reported that it experienced a 10.7 per cent growth in the amount of passengers using its airport in August, following on from a 10.3 per cent increase in June and 12.6 per cent jump in July.