Airbus: Middle East to emerge as hub for international air travel
08 Mar 2007
Manama: The Middle East will experience strong and sustained growth in passenger traffic, according to an Airbus report. The report, which examines worldwide aviation trends through 2025, says that the Gulf region is set to emerge as a hub for international air travel.
The report predicts that Middle East passenger traffic will grow at an annual rate of 7.1 per cent through 2015, as compared to a global average of 5.3 per cent.
Looking ahead, the report predicts that Middle East passenger traffic will continue to grow at 5.2pc in the period 2016 to 2025, as compared to a global average of 4.4 per cent. Over a 20-year period the Airbus report predicts a robust average growth of 6.2 per cent for the region.
"The Middle East is not only growing because of its own economic development, but is also benefiting from having three major and rapidly developing markets in its own backyard - Russia, Eastern Europe and India," says the report.
According to the report, trend-setting airlines from the region have taken advantage of the region's location to attract international passengers on their way from Asia to Europe and Africa.
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