Friday 29 March 2024
 
»
 
»
4.6pc ANNUAL GROWTH LIKELY

Dubai International Airport ... a major Middle East travel hub.

237m more air passengers seen in Mideast by 2034

GENEVA, October 16, 2014

The Middle East region is expected to experience a strong average growth of 4.9 per cent annually in air passenger numbers, adding an extra 237 million passengers a year by 2034, according to a new report.

The UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will all enjoy strong growth of 5.6 per cent, 4.8 per cent, and 4.6 per cent, respectively. The total market size will be 383 million passengers in the next 20 years, the International Air Travel Association (Iata) report said.

Iata, in its first 20-year passenger growth forecast, has projected an increase in passenger numbers globally to 7.3 billion by 2034 – which represents a 4.1 per cent average annual growth in demand for air connectivity that will result in more than a doubling of the 3.3 billion passengers expected to travel this year.

China is expected to overtake the US as the world’s largest passenger market (defined by traffic to, from and within) by 2030. Both markets, however, are expected to remain the largest by a wide margin. In 2034 flights to, from and within China will account for some 1.3 billion passengers, 856 million more than 2014 with an average annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent.

Traffic to, from and within the US is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 3.2 per cent that will see 1.2 billion passengers by 2034 (559 million more than 2014).

Currently the ninth largest market, India will see a total of 367 million passengers by 2034, an extra 266 million annual passengers compared to today. It will overtake the UK (148 million extra passengers, total market 337 million) to become the third largest market around 2031.

Europe will have the slowest growth rate, 2.7 per cent, but will still cater for an additional 591 million passengers a year. The total market will be 1.4 billion passengers.

"In the year that marks the 100th anniversary of commercial air transport, it is fitting that the most comprehensive long-range forecast of future air passenger trends is released. After a century of growth that has taken us from 1 passenger to 3.3 billion passengers this year, air transport is set to generate even more economic growth, employment, and cultural and educational opportunities. The first century of air travel has seen about 65 billion passengers take to the sky. The next 65 billion will fly in just the next 20 years," said Tony Tyler, Iata’s director general and CEO.  – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Middle East | China | Iata |

More Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads