Middle East airlines remained the weakest-performing region for passenger traffic in May, although demand showed signs of recovery as the year-on-year decline eased to 28.4 per cent from 46.6 per cent in April, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA’s latest Air Passenger Market report said global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) declined 2.2 per cent year-on-year in May, largely reflecting the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Excluding the region, global passenger demand increased by 0.7 per cent compared with May 2025.
International passenger demand declined 1.6 per cent during the month, while domestic demand contracted 3.1 per cent. Industry capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), fell 2.3 per cent year-on-year, resulting in a record May load factor of 83.5 per cent.
Middle East airlines recorded a 28.4 per cent decline in passenger demand, while capacity fell 24.3 per cent year-on-year. The region’s passenger load factor stood at 76.1 per cent, down 4.8 percentage points compared with May 2025.
Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, said: “Air passenger demand was down 2.2% year-on-year in May on the impact of war in the Middle East. The decline was centred on carriers in the Middle East with a 28.4% year-on-year fall. That’s a significant improvement on the 46.6% decline recorded for April, a sign of the region’s resilience.”
Walsh added that overall demand remained largely resilient despite high fuel prices and airfares. While lower oil prices were encouraging, uncertainty over oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz meant airlines were likely to continue facing elevated jet fuel costs. He said carriers operating on margins of around 2 per cent would continue testing demand resilience through higher fares while fuel prices remain above normal levels.
Among other regions, European airlines recorded a 3.8 per cent increase in passenger demand, Latin American carriers reported growth of 10.5 per cent, African airlines posted an 8.9 per cent rise, North American carriers grew by 1 per cent, while Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 1.3 per cent increase.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk Middle East with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
