IATA notes 2.6% YoY growth of Middle Eastern carriers

Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, said the air cargo demand growth of Middle Eastern carriers — though moderate — highlights the region’s steady role in global trade despite geopolitical and economic headwinds. IATA noted a 2.6 per cent year-on-year increase in air cargo demand for the carriers in July 2025, while capacity expanded by 5.9 per cent. Most major trade lanes saw expansion with Europe — Asia volumes rising by 13.5 per cent. Middle East–Europe routes showed marginal growth. While much attention is focused on developments in markets connected to the USA, it is important to keep a broad perspective on the global network, he added.