The Middle East aviation market has expanded by 5 percent since 2019, making it the second-fastest-growing region globally, behind only South Asia, which has grown by 12 percent. This growth is driven by a robust combination of Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) growth and Legacy Carrier capacity.
“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,” stated Filip Filipov, COO of OAG.
Middle East carriers top global charts
The latest analysis from travel data provider OAG also revealed that both Emirates and Qatar Airways rank among the 2024 Top 20 Global Airlines by Capacity and the Top 10 by Available Seat Kilometers.
Emirates Group, Saudia Group and Qatar Airways are the top three carriers by group position. Between them, these three airlines operated 127 million departing seats in 2024.
Low-cost carriers are reshaping the market
OAG noted that a standout trend that has emerged in the Middle East aviation market is the growth of low-cost carriers. For instance, flynas posted a 63 percent capacity increase for 2024 versus 2019, making it the fastest-growing airline in the region. flydubai followed closely with 56 percent growth, as both carriers operated nearly 14.4 million departing seats each, with flynas edging ahead by 25,000 seats.
Low-cost carriers now make up 29 percent of all Middle East capacity, more than doubling from 13 percent in 2014. Over the past decade, LCC capacity has grown at an 11.5 percent annual average, far outpacing traditional carriers.
Egypt dominates LCC routes
Egypt dominates low-cost carrier routes in the growing African market. Notably, 96 percent of flyadeal’s African capacity is to Egypt, 81 percent of flynas’s African capacity is to Egypt, and 73 percent of Air Arabia’s Middle East–Africa capacity goes to the country.
In addition, full-service and legacy carriers in the region rely heavily on connecting traffic, with Qatar Airways at 84 percent, Etihad at 77 percent and Emirates at 66 percent.
Read: Saudia inks deal with Airbus to acquire up to 20 wide-body aircraft
Competitive hotspots emerge
The Cairo–Riyadh (CAI–RUH) route remains one of the region’s most competitive corridors with eight carriers in operation. Dubai-Riyadh (DXB-RUH) and Cairo-Jeddah (CAI-JED) are also on the top end of the scale for competition, while Dubai to Heathrow (DXB-LHR) is a more concentrated market with four airlines competing.
