Airbus forecasts demand for 42,000 new aircraft over next two decades
Fri, 10 Jul 2026
Global airlines will require more than 42,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, driven by rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and the growing accessibility of air travel, according to Airbus' 2026-2045 Global Market Forecast.
Global aviation sector set to move 10bn passengers yearly: SITA
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
The global air transport industry is preparing to move twice as many passengers within a generation, (nearly 10 billion passengers) without doubling the airports, the fleet, or the people standing at the borders, according to a report by air transport IT specialist SITA.
Zayed International Airport sees strong passenger growth
Thu, 02 Jul 2026
Zayed International Airport (AUH) reported strong growth, handling over 93,000 passengers and nearly 500 flights daily between June 26–30, surpassing 2025 levels, driven by airline expansion, strong carriers, and efficient biometric-enabled operations.
Najran Airport records 13,000 flights, 1.7m passengers
Wed, 01 Jul 2026
Najran International Airport in Saudi Arabia handled around 1.7 million passengers and more than 13,000 flights from the start of 2025 through the end of Q1 2026, reflecting steady operational growth.
Kuwait resumes air navigation after temporary airspace closure
Sat, 06 Jun 2026
Kuwait reopened its airspace on Saturday after a temporary closure imposed as a precautionary measure following Iran's ballistic missile attacks on the country. During the temporary closure, 11 Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways flights were diverted to neighbouring airports to maintain the safety of passengers and crews.
Jazeera Airways announces resumption of Jeddah flights
Sun, 29 Mar 2026
Kuwaiti low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways has announced the resumption of its flights to the Saudi port city of Jeddah via Qaisumah Airport (AQI), as part of the airline’s expanded dual-base operations. This route will support both passenger travel and the continued movement of essential goods.
Jazeera restores Kuwait–India connectivity under Vande Bharat
Wed, 18 Mar 2026
Leading Kuwaiti low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways has marked another major milestone by simultaneously relaunching flights to six Indian cities from Kuwait via Qaisumah Airport (AQI) in Hafar Al Batin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Project Vande Bharat during these challenging times.
UAE airports serve 1.4m passengers from March 1 to 12, airline ops reach 44.6%
Sat, 14 Mar 2026
More than 1.4 million passengers used UAE airports between March 1–12, according to the UAE GCAA. National carriers are restoring operations, reaching 44.6% of overall activity compared with operational levels before the current regional tensions.
Travel chaos continues in Gulf as stranded passengers scramble for limited flights
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
Travel disruption across the Gulf region has entered its fifth day, with thousands of passengers still stranded and airlines operating only limited flights out of major hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi amid continued regional conflict and widespread airspace closures.
UAE Federal Authority waives off overstay fines for stranded passengers
Thu, 05 Mar 2026
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security has decided to exempt individuals who were unable to travel from fines for delayed departures due to exceptional circumstances currently affecting the region, which led to the closure of airspace and the temporary suspension of a number of flights.
ICP facilitates 30,913 travellers amid UAE flight suspensions
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has affirmed the readiness of its teams and systems to address crises and emergencies in light of the current developments that have led to the temporary suspension of flights as a precautionary measure.
Little relief for stranded passengers as Gulf airspace closures continue
Tue, 03 Mar 2026
There was little relief for thousands of stranded passengers across the Gulf on Tuesday as sweeping airspace closures and mass flight cancellations continued to paralyse one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
UAE says state will bear cost of hosting of stranded passengers
Sun, 01 Mar 2026
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates has announced that the State is bearing all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers, ensuring the continued provision of essential services during the period of operational adjustments.
King Khalid International Airport completes big terminal relocation
Fri, 27 Feb 2026
Riyadh Airports Company has announced that King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital has completed a large-scale terminal relocation project this month, shifting the airline operations while handling more than one million passengers during the transition.
Etihad posts solid growth in January; passenger numbers up 29pc
Fri, 13 Feb 2026
UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways has reported a 29% rise in passenger traffic in January, extending the growth momentum that followed a record 2025. The passenger load factor hit 89.9% for the month, up from 89.1% a year earlier when 1.7 million guests flew with Etihad..
Global air passenger demand up 5.3% in 2025
Fri, 30 Jan 2026
The global air passenger demand in 2025 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 5.3% compared to 2024, according to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) report.
Saudi Arabia’s air passenger numbers top 140m in 2025
Thu, 29 Jan 2026
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector achieved exceptional growth in 2025, setting record figures in air traffic statistics. The number of passengers exceeded 140 million, up about 9%.
Abu Dhabi Airports records 33m passengers in 2025
Thu, 29 Jan 2026
Abu Dhabi Airports, operator of the emirate’s five airports including the flagship Zayed International Airport (AUH), recorded more than 33 million annual passengers in 2025, the largest influx of travellers in the emirate’s history.
Middle East carriers' passenger demand soar 9.6% in November
Fri, 09 Jan 2026
Middle Eastern airlines’ passenger demand rose 9.6% year-on-year in November 2025, with capacity up 9.2% and a load factor of 81.4% (+0.3 ppt). Globally, passenger demand grew 5.7% versus November 2024, per IATA data.
SalamAir flew 839,630 passengers across its network in Q4
Sat, 03 Jan 2026
Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir has announced that it had operated nearly 5,800 flights carrying a total of 839,630 passengers across its network during the fourth quarter with an on-time performance of 77.5%, thus highlighting its operational resilience.
King Abdulaziz Airport handles 53.4m passengers in record year
Sat, 03 Jan 2026
King Abdulaziz International Airport has reached a historic milestone by welcoming 53.4 million passengers in a single year, marking the highest count ever recorded at a Saudi airport and solidifying its status among the world’s mega airports in passenger traffic.