Middle Eastern carriers see 10.8% rise in passenger demand

Middle Eastern carriers see 10.8% rise in passenger demand

Muscat: Middle Eastern airlines saw a 10.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand, according to a new report published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for March 2024 global passenger demand.

“Capacity increased 13.9 percent year-on-year and the load factor fell -2.1 percent to 77.5 percent compared to March 2023,” the report further said.

European carriers saw an 11.6 percent year-on-year increase in demand while capacity increased 11.4 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.9 percent (up just 0.1 percent compared to March 2023), the IATA report added.

Meanwhile, North American carriers saw a 14.5 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 14.8 percent year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 84.7 percent (-0.2 percent compared to March 2023).

The IATA report further said that total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 13.8 percent compared to March 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 12.3 percent year-on-year. The March load factor was 82 percent (+1 percent compared to March 2023).

International demand rose 18.9 percent compared to March 2023; capacity was up 18.8 percent year-on-year and the load factor improved to 81.6 percent (+0.1 percent in March 2023).

Domestic demand rose 6.6 percent compared to March 2023; capacity