MUSTAFA ABDULAZIM (ABU DHABI)
Zayed International Airport recorded the fastest growth in seat capacity for scheduled flights among Middle Eastern airports in May 2024, with a 28.3% increase to 1.4 million seats compared to 1.09 million in May 2023, according to OAG data. Etihad Airways also saw the highest growth among national commercial airlines in the region, with a 26.6% rise to over 992,000 seats.
The OAG report highlighted that scheduled seat capacity at UAE airports reached 7.25 million in May 2024, a 12.2% increase from 6.46 million in May 2023. The UAE’s aviation sector continued its recovery, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by over 14% in the first five months of 2024. From January to May, scheduled seats on international flights totalled more than 34.7 million, compared to 30.4 million in the same period in 2019.
The UAE maintained its leadership in the Middle Eastern aviation market, holding a 32.6% share of total seat capacity. In May 2024, international flights in the region accounted for 22.24 million seats, a 6.7% increase from the previous year. Saudi Arabia followed with 6.35 million seats, and Qatar ranked third with 2.68 million seats.
UAE national carriers (Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, and Air Arabia) accounted for 43.7% of the region’s scheduled capacity. Emirates Airlines led with over 3.18 million seats, followed by Qatar Airways with 2.67 million seats, and Saudi Airlines with 2.6 million seats.