The Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region's air passenger traffic has experienced significant fluctuations over the last decade. A notable increase was seen from 2013 to 2019, with a yearly growth rate peaking at 10.23% in 2016. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a dramatic downturn, with a 66.62% decrease in passenger numbers from the previous year. Post-pandemic recovery began in 2021, capturing a robust 116.34% growth in 2022 and a continued increase in 2023 by 20.57%, reaching 302.65 million passengers. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the last 5 years stands at 2.72%.
Future trends to watch for:
- Increasing digital transformation and technology implementation in the aviation sector to enhance passenger experience.
- Expansion of regional airlines and new routes to accommodate growing passenger demand.
- Sustainability initiatives and the push towards greener aviation fuel to reduce carbon footprints.
- Recovery and stabilization of tourism throughout the MENA region post-COVID-19.
