Middle Eastern air traffic - fastest growing in the world?

Figures from the latest Global Market Forecast from Airbus have revealed that Middle Eastern air traffic will grow by 6.6 percent over the next decade, making it the fastest growing region in the world.

According to the report, the region would see the number of planes serving the region triple in number by 2028, with Middle Eastern airlines taking about six percent of all new aircraft deliveries over the next two decades. Currently, the region's carriers are set to take delivery of 730 planes by 2018 with a further 689 on order up until 2028.

"While domestic and intra-regional markets in the region will continue to grow at an impressive rate...the intercontinental network will grow more quickly, as new routes are added by the region's airlines and their operations expand," the report said citing the delivery of the A380 as the reason for such trends. Dubai-based Emirates has placed firm orders for 58 A380s, the single largest order of any airline.

According to the Airbus report, Dubai International Airport will be in the top four in the world for handling the super-jumbo aircraft by 2028, behind Hong Kong, Heathrow and Beijing.

The region has seen a boom in recent years, with Emirates and Etihad implementing expansion plans equating to an estimated $98.2 billion of orders over the next two decades. In comparison, to the rest of the world, that places the size of the order seventh, way behind America's US$450 billion order on planes yet still 14 percent of all global deliveries.

The report also stated that the region's youthful population would continue to drive growth in the domestic market as they "increasingly seek to benefit from opportunities the region can offer, both economically and in terms of leisure activities". Due to the kingdom's wealth, the UAE has been named as the regional airline industry's biggest customer.

The increase in the construction of mega-cities, emerging economies, evolving airline networks and the expansion of low cost carriers are all cited as reasons for the rise in air traffic, not to mention airlines replacing older models of airlines with newer more eco-efficient models.

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