Traffic News
War in Middle East weighs on Heathrow passenger traffic in May
A -31.1% slide in passenger volumes to and from the Middle East held back traffic figures in May as Heathrow marked its 80th anniversary.
DFWC & MEADFA webinar reveals devastating impact of Middle East crisis on passenger traffic and non-aero revenues
The Middle East conflict continues to take a terrible human and economic toll. Traffic across nine airports in the Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa regions saw a drastic -54% (or 27 million passengers) collapse during March and April.
IATA: Airline profits to decline sharply as Middle East conflict and fuel costs weigh on industry
Global airline net profit is projected to fall to US$23 billion, nearly half the prior forecast, as Middle East conflict and fuel costs drag on results.
UN Tourism reports steady Q1 growth, but warns of headwinds from Middle East conflict
International tourism maintained its upward trajectory in the first quarter of 2026, with arrivals rising +2% despite disruption linked to the Middle East crisis in March.
Holiday-driven surge boosts traffic at Hong Kong International Airport to 5.67 million in April
Strong traffic momentum continued at the busy gateway in April, with passenger numbers up +9.4% year-on-year, supported by resilient regional travel demand despite ongoing Middle East geopolitical tensions.
Hong Kong International Airport passenger traffic rises to 5.74 million in March amid Middle East rerouting
A +19.6% year-on-year jump in March passenger traffic at the busy travel hub was driven by surging transfer and transit volumes linked to Middle East rerouting on European routes, while flight movements grew +2.7% to 34,100.
Reinforcing Riyadh Airports Company’s position in global aviation
We present highlights of Riyadh Airport Company’s recent developments, which underline how King Khalid International Airport is building a growing reputation for quality services.
Duty-free downturn weighs on Airports of Thailand half-year commercial performance
AOT reported non-aeronautical revenue of THB16,605 million (US$511 million), down -4.47% year-on-year for the six months ended 31 March, as concession revenue was hit by weaker duty-free performance.
Europe’s airports continue upward trend in March despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds
ACI Europe’s air traffic report for the month highlighted uneven growth across regions – the EU+ market stood out with passenger volumes rising +4.1%, while the rest of Europe slowed to +2.6%.
Strong retail and international passenger growth boosts Wellington Airport’s FY2026 revenue growth
Annual revenue at the New Zealand hub reached NZ$194.2 million for the year ended 31 March, up +4.9% year-on-year, boosted by robust commercial and retail performance alongside a +4% increase in international passengers.
Dubai Airports issues positive outlook for passenger traffic despite regional conflict
As conditions in the region stabilise, the transfer traffic segment is expected to recover quickly, says Dubai Airports.
China rises, India slips: Air4Casts report tells a contrasting tale of Middle East travel fall-out
“When the Gulf coughs, Indian aviation catches pneumonia,” Air4Casts notes in an insightful report that paints a stark contrast between the fortunes of two key aviation markets since the Middle East war broke out.
