¦ Middle East flights up ten per cent
¦ Intra-regional capacity jumps 14 per cent
¦ Low-cost carriers rush to meet market demand
¦ World airlines plan January sale of 266.5 million seats
Rapidly-increasing demand for travel to and from the Middle East has prompted the world’s airlines to lay on ten per cent more flights this month. Compared to January last year, this month sees an extra 5,300-plus Middle East and Africa services on offer.
Timetables to and from the Middle East are packed with an extra 2,788 flights, latest figures from OAG reveal, while Africa benefits from an additional 2,607 services, 12 per cent more than in January 2005.
But while the number of intra-African flights has increased only four per cent, demand for air travel within the Middle East has led airlines to operate nearly 2,600 additional flights.
While the number of “domestic” flights is up ten per cent – the same as the number of flights to and from the region – the use of larger aircraft means this month’s intra-regional capacity is actually 14 per cent higher than it was a year ago.
Worldwide, airlines will be operating nearly 2.3 million scheduled flights, the highest January flights programme since 2001, offering the equivalent of some 266.5 million seats. The number of flights is two per cent higher than in January 2005, while the number of seats is four per cent higher.
The figures are revealed in OAG’s latest Quarterly Airline Traffic Statistics, a regular snapshot of airline activity around the world. OAG collates data from more than 1000 scheduled airlines, on a daily basis, to give an overview of anticipated travel demand.
“As far as the Middle East is concerned, there has also been a significant increase in the number of low-cost flights on offer,” says Duncan Alexander, managing director of OAG Data. “The number of budget services to and from the region is 148 per cent higher this January, while low-cost operations within the region have virtually tripled.”
In intercontinental terms, Africa shows the biggest increase in aviation activity, with airlines planning 12 per cent more flights this year, while the Asia-Pacific region is showing growth of nine per cent. The number of flights into and out of Europe is eight per cent higher than in January 2005. There are two per cent more flights planned into and out of Central and South America, but North American schedules are showing zero growth.