Passenger demand in the Middle East rose by just over 15 per cent, the strongest growth rate seen across the globe in 2012, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The region beat Latin America and Africa, which saw 8.4 per cent and 7.5 per cent growth last year respectively. The increase suggests the Middle Eastern aviation sector has successfully rebounded from the impact of the political and social unrest seen across the region in 2011. Even during the Arab uprisings, the growth rate was 8.9 per cent.

Middle Eastern airlines also increased their capacity by 12.5 per cent last year, while improving their load factors to 77.4 per cent, avoiding the risk of over-capacity.

The latest IATA statistics on freight volumes show trade lanes between Africa and the Middle East are strengthening, with freight demand growing by 7.1 per cent in Africa and 14.7 per cent in the Middle East.

The Middle East had the fastest capacity expansion of any region, with a growth rate of 11.4 per cent, but the load factor still improved to 44.8 per cent.

Globally, there was an increase of just over 5 per cent in passenger demand and a 1.5 per cent fall for cargo. Growth was very slightly down on the 5.9 per cent growth seen in 2011, but above the 5 per cent 20-year average.

According to the IATA, global load factors reached near-record levels in 2012, suggesting that airlines are continuing to manage their capacities very carefully.