IATA Reports 43% Increase in Summer Bookings in the Middle East

IATA reports 43% surge in summer bookings, indicating high confidence among air travelers in the Middle East.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air travelers in the Middle East are displaying strong confidence in smooth airport travel this summer, as advanced bookings have increased by 43%. The peak summer travel holiday season has instilled a high level of confidence among travelers in the region. Bookings for the period between May and September have witnessed a substantial rise of 42.9%, reflecting increased travel confidence following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

These figures align with the global first quarter 2023 forward bookings data for the same period (May to September), which indicates a 35% increase compared to 2022 levels.

The survey, encompassing 4,700 travelers from 11 countries, reveals that 79% of respondents are planning a trip during the June to August 2023 timeframe.

Furthermore, 85% of participants stated that they were not surprised by disruptions during the peak travel season, and 80% expressed their expectation of smooth travel, with post-pandemic issues having been resolved.

Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, said: “Expectations are high for this year’s peak Northern summer travel season.

“For many this will be their first post-pandemic travel experience. While some disruptions can be expected, there is a clear expectation that the ramping-up issues faced at some key hub airports in 2022 will have been resolved.

“To meet strong demand, airlines are planning schedules based on the capacity that airports, border control, ground handlers, and air navigation service providers have declared. Over the next months, all industry players now need to deliver”.

IATA emphasizes the importance of collaboration, adequate staffing, and accurate information sharing to effectively mitigate operational disruptions and minimize their impact on passengers. The key lies in ensuring the availability of declared and scheduled capacities, according to IATA.

“A lot of work has gone into preparing for the peak Northern summer travel season. Success rests on readiness across all players in the supply chain. “If each player delivers on what has been declared, there should be no last-minute requirements to reduce the scale of the schedules that travellers have booked on,” said Careen.

Based on forward bookings data, significant growth is anticipated in the following regions:

• Asia Pacific region (expected growth of 134.7%)
• Middle East (expected growth of 42.9%)
• Europe (expected growth of 39.9%)
• Africa (expected growth of 36.4%)
• Latin America (expected growth of 21.4%)
• North America (expected growth of 14.1%)