Middle East carriers recorded a 23.9 per cent growth in passenger traffic in September compared with the same month in 2009, the highest increase of all regions.

While Ramadan caused traffic to decrease slightly in August, it has helped September traffic due to many people travelling during the Eid holiday. Middle East carriers recorded a 12.3 per cent increase in passenger traffic in August (MEED 30:9:10).

Globally, passenger traffic increased 10.5 per cent year-on-year while cargo traffic rose 14.8 per cent in September compared with the same time the year before. This is attributed to a lack of consumer and business confidence in the market.

“It is good news that the recovery in passenger markets continued in September, but the freight numbers are worrying. Freight activity has fallen 6 per cent since May’s post-crisis peak,” says Giovanni Bisignani, director general and chief executive officer of International Air Transport Association (Iata).

“What we see in air cargo markets is inevitable reflected in the broader economy,” Bisignani says.

Worldwide, passenger traffic also increased. African carriers saw a 16 per cent growth in traffic in September while North American carriers recorded an 11.1 per cent increase in traffic.

Carriers in Europe achieved an 8.4 per cent rise in September demand and Asia Pacific airlines posted an 8.6 per cent increase in traffic.

Latin American airlines recorded the industry’s weakest growth at 6.6 per cent, which is mainly attributed to the Mexicana Airlines ceasing all operations.

Iata revised the forecast for airlines’ profits in 2010 earlier in September. Middle East carriers are now likely to achieve a $400m profit this year, an increase on the previous estimate of $100m.