Middle East air carriers expected to top global cargo growth to 2016

MIDEAST air carriers are expected to experience the strongest growth in cargo volumes internationally in the next four years, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Five of the 10 fastest growing countries will be in the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting its growing importance in international air freight, said the latest IATA worldwide industry outlook.

By 2016, the United Arab Emirates will become the sixth biggest freight market in the world with 2.5 million tonnes, behind the United States, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Japan.

International freight demand in the Middle East will grow at 4.9 per cent, the strongest growth among the regions, said IATA.

Globally, the IATA expects to see a total of some 3.6 billion passengers in 2016. That's about 800 million more than the 2.8 billion passengers carried by airlines in 2011.

These figures show passenger numbers expanding 5.3 per cent a year between 2012 and 2016. The 28.5 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the forecast period will see 331 million new passengers on international flights.

International freight volumes are expected to grow three per cent a year 34.5 million tonnes in 2016. That is 4.8 million tonnes more than the 29.6 million tonnes in 2011.

"The emerging economies of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East will see the strongest passenger growth. This will be led by routes within or connected to China, which are expected to account for 193 million of the 831 million new passengers over the forecast period," said the IATA report.

Through 2016, the US will continue to be the largest single market for domestic passengers (710.2 million).

Mideast carriers will also experience the third fastest growth in passenger numbers between 2012-2016, IATA said, adding that the top five countries for international travel measured by number of passengers will be the US, the UK, Germany, Spain, and France.

"Growing air transport links generate jobs and underpin economic growth in all economies," said IATA director general Tony Tyler, the former CEO of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways.

"But exploiting these will require governments to recognise aviation's value with policies that do not stifle innovation, tax regimes that do not punish success and investments to enable infrastructure to keep up with growth," he said.