Middle East-based airliners are reporting the strongest traffic growth rates in the global aviation market, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

International passenger and cargo traffic for Middle Eastern carriers grew by 13.3 per cent in September compared to the same period the year before. This growth rate was down on the 17 per cent increase in traffic recorded in August.

Capacity in September rose by 11.3 per cent and the load factor grew to 78.7 per cent.

In contrast, airliners in the Asia-Pacific region recorded some of the weakest growth figures, with demand rising just 1.7 per cent year-on-year. 

European airlines reported 5.4 per cent growth on international services in September compared to the same month last year. North American airliners saw their international traffic rise by 2.1 per cent.

Latin American carriers reported growth of 7.5 per cent, with capacity increasing to 6.2 per cent. The African aviation market also saw a hike in traffic, reporting a rise of 4.7 per cent year-on-year.

Overall growth rates across the global passenger market have started to flatten, with the Iata reporting that there was no growth in passenger traffic between April and August.

In September global passenger travel increased 4.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. This compares to a year-on-year growth rate of 5.3 per cent recorded in August. Global air cargo traffic grew at an even weaker pace, recording growth of 0.6 per cent.

Air freight rose 0.6 per cent compared to September 2011, but declined 0.6 per cent compared to the previous month.