Middle East airlines see 14% drop in passenger demand in August 2026
Based on · First reported
Sources
- IATA data for August 2026 shows a 14.6% year‑on‑year decline in passenger demand for Middle East carriers, while Muscat International Airport recorded a 7.9% fall in flight movements and an 8.7% drop in passenger traffic during the same month.
- The contraction on Middle East‑Asia routes accelerated to 11.7% year‑on‑year from 8.6% in July, and global air transport demand fell 0.8% compared with August 2025. Excluding Middle East carriers, demand grew 0.6% year‑on‑year, and forward schedules for October indicate a 2.0% increase in available seats. Cargo demand for Middle Eastern airlines rose 1% year‑on‑year, with cargo capacity up 3.3% in August 2026.
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