Muscat: Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.4 percent traffic rise in 2024 compared to 2023 as capacity increased 8.4 percent and load factor climbed to 80.8 percent.
December demand climbed 7.7 percent compared to the same month in 2023, according to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA full-year and December 2024 report.
Total full-year traffic in 2024 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 10.4 percent compared to 2023. This was 3.8 percent above pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 8.7 percent in 2024 while the overall load factor reached 83.5 percent, a record for full-year traffic.
International full-year traffic in 2024 increased by 13.6 percent compared to 2023, and capacity rose by 12.8 percent.
Domestic full-year traffic for 2024 rose 5.7 percent compared to the prior year, while capacity expanded by 2.5 percent.
December 2024 was a strong finish to the year with overall demand rising 8.6 percent year-on-year, and capacity grew by 5.6 percent.
International demand rose by 10.6 percent and domestic demand by 5.5 percent. The December load factor reached 84 percent, a record for the month.
“2024 made it clear that people want to travel. With 10.4 percent demand growth, travel reached record numbers domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency. On average, 83.5 percent of all seats on offer were filled—a new record high, partially attributable to the supply chain constraints that limited capacity growth. Aviation growth reverberates across societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, exploration, and much more,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“Looking to 2025, there is every indication that travel demand will continue to grow, albeit at a moderated pace of 8 percent that is more aligned with historical averages. The desire to partake in the freedom that flying makes possible brings some challenges into sharp focus. The tragic accidents remind us that safety needs continuous efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will never cease our work to make aviation even safer."
Second is the airlines’ firm commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. While airlines invested record amounts in purchases of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2024, less than 0.5 percent of fuel needs were met with SAF. SAF is in short supply and costs must come down. Governments could fortify their national energy security and unblock this problem by prioritizing renewable fuel production from which SAF is derived. In addition to securing energy supplies and increasing the SAF supply, diverting a fraction of the subsidies given for fossil fuel extraction to support renewable energy capacity would also boost prosperity through economic expansion and job creation,” said Walsh.
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