Middle East carriers have recorded a passenger traffic growth of 6.7 per cent in August compared to the same month last year, the second highest traffic growth in the world, behind European airlines.

Middle East airlines recorded a 9.7 per cent increase in passenger traffic in July.

Globally, airlines recorded a 4.5 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared to August 2010. However, this figure was a decline on July numbers, when passenger traffic grew by six per cent.

“The industry has shifted gears downward. The pace of growth in passenger markets has dipped and the freight business is now shrinking at a faster pace. With business and consumer confidence continuing to slump globally, there is not a lot of optimism for improved conditions any time soon,” says Tony Tyler, director general and chief executive of Iata.

European airlines saw the highest increase in traffic at 7.9 per cent. North American carriers reported the weakest performance, with passenger traffic growing just 2.9 per cent, mainly due to a slow growth in capacity.

Airlines in the Asia-Pacific reported a 5.3 per cent growth in traffic, which reflects the recovery of the international travel market in Japan. Latin American carriers reported a 5.6 per cent growth in traffic and African carriers recorded a 5.2 per cent rise in passenger traffic.

Montreal-based International Air Transport Association (Iata) has predicted Middle East airlines will make a profit of $800m in 2011 (MEED 27:9:11).