Middle East passenger traffic rose 8.9 per cent in 2011 compared with 2010.

In December 2011, passenger traffic was up 11 per cent on the same month the previous year. Globally, passenger demand increased 5.9 per cent year-on-year.

“Given the weak conditions in western economies, the passenger market held up well in 2011. But overall, 2011 was a year of contrasts. Healthy passenger growth, primarily in the first half of the year was offset by a declining cargo market,” says Tony Tyler, director general and chief executive officer of Montreal-based International Air Transport Association (Iata).

In other markets, traffic increased 9.8 per cent in December and 9.5 per cent for the year for European carriers, while North American carriers witnessed one per cent growth in December and four per cent for the year.

In Latin America, carriers recorded 8.8 per cent growth in traffic in December and 10.2 per cent growth for the full year. This was the strongest growth in passenger traffic across all markets. Asia Pacific carriers saw a 3.7 rise in traffic for December and a 4.1 per cent rise in traffic for 2011 as a whole. African carriers recorded the only decrease in passenger traffic in December, falling 0.7 per cent for the month. However, traffic rose 2.3 per cent for the full year.