Airlines and airports in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) have significantly increased their technology investments over the past year, but uneven spending priorities are undermining the overall impact, according to a new industry report.

The Air Transport IT Insights 2025 study by SITA draws on surveys of 70 airlines and 370 airports worldwide. It comes as the aviation sector faces mounting challenges, including rising fuel costs, supply chain constraints, and geopolitical tensions.

The report shows that airlines in the MEA region are leading the push toward digital transformation. All surveyed carriers increased their IT budgets in 2025, marking the strongest commitment globally. By contrast, only 44 percent of airports in the region raised their technology spending, while 12 percent indicated plans to reduce investment.

This disparity is reflected in digital readiness. Around 69 percent of airlines in the region have established data platforms, compared with just 26 percent of airports—the widest gap recorded worldwide.

According to SITA, the lack of alignment between stakeholders is limiting the benefits of record technology spending. Without seamless data exchange between airlines, airports, ground handlers, and government authorities, operational efficiency gains remain constrained.

Globally, the aviation industry invested $50.8 billion in technology in 2025. However, fragmented systems and limited coordination continue to restrict returns. The report notes that the absence of real-time operational visibility hampers decision-making, increases costs, and reduces the ability to respond quickly to disruptions.

The financial impact is already evident. The International Air Transport Association estimates that delays alone cost the industry around $30 billion annually, a figure exacerbated by ongoing disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and other global pressures.

Industry analysts say the findings highlight structural challenges in how aviation stakeholders approach technology investment. Airlines, which control their own operations and customer data, have been quicker to adopt advanced tools such as artificial intelligence and data analytics. Airports, however, operate as multi-user environments involving airlines, regulators, and service providers, making coordination more complex.

Selim Bouri, SITA’s president for the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, warned that the divergence in investment strategies is a growing concern. He noted that traditional approaches, such as expanding airport infrastructure or increasing fleet size, are no longer sufficient to meet rising demand or manage increasingly complex disruptions.

While airlines are investing heavily in digital solutions to improve efficiency and sustainability, many airports remain focused on long-term physical expansion projects. This imbalance can create bottlenecks, offsetting gains achieved in the air with inefficiencies on the ground.

The report suggests that technology-driven solutions could deliver faster and more cost-effective results. Around 40 percent of airlines are already using AI-based tools to optimise flight routes and reduce fuel consumption, achieving savings of between three and 10 percent per flight.

However, the benefits of such innovations remain limited without system-wide integration. Currently, only about 20 percent of airlines and 40 percent of airports share operational data with key partners in real time.

Bouri attributed this to the complexity of the aviation ecosystem, where multiple stakeholders rely on different systems and data standards. While integration technologies are available, progress depends on coordinated investment and the adoption of common frameworks.

Efforts are underway to address these challenges through industry initiatives focused on standardising digital identity systems and data formats. Nevertheless, infrastructure gaps—particularly in developing regions—remain a significant barrier. More than half of airports worldwide still prioritise basic IT and telecommunications upgrades.

Financing constraints further complicate progress. Airport operators often depend on government funding and partnerships with airlines, leading to lengthy negotiations over cost-sharing arrangements. In regions with limited resources, this slows the pace of digital transformation.

Despite these challenges, the report highlights opportunities for emerging markets, particularly in Africa, to adopt modern, scalable technologies without the burden of legacy systems. By implementing modular and interoperable solutions from the outset, airports could accelerate returns while preparing for future growth.

In 2025, airlines globally allocated $36 billion to IT spending, representing 3.6 percent of revenue, while airports invested $14.8 billion, or 7.3 percent of revenue. Much of this funding is directed toward improving operational resilience, including real-time flight management, passenger processing, and customer service systems.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a central focus. The report finds that 63 percent of airlines already use AI in operations control for disruption management, aircraft allocation, and crew scheduling. A further 79 percent plan to prioritise generative AI technologies in the coming year.

However, SITA CEO David Lavorel said the next phase of digital transformation will depend less on new tools and more on connecting existing systems effectively. He emphasised that while the industry is investing heavily in AI, the lack of integrated data infrastructure remains the primary obstacle to maximising its potential.

Source: ZAWYA

Malaysia Aviation Group, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, is considering whether to introduce a green tax on passengers to help cover the rising cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), potentially adding to airfares.

Group chief Capt. Nasaruddin A. Bakar said Monday that the company was examining different options as airlines worldwide seek to reduce carbon emissions while facing high SAF prices and limited supplies.

“We are looking at all options,” Nasaruddin told The Associated Press on the sidelines of an aviation sustainability conference. He stressed that both passengers and airlines needed to be able to afford the transition to cleaner fuel.

Singapore, Malaysia’s neighbour, has already announced a government-mandated green aviation levy set to take effect in January 2027. Charges will vary according to destination and cabin class, making Singapore the first country to announce such a measure.

The aviation sector faces growing pressure to address its environmental impact as global air travel demand increases. The International Energy Agency estimates that aviation accounts for about 2.5% of annual global carbon emissions, while the UN-backed International Civil Aviation Organization has established a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

According to the aviation organisation, sustainable aviation fuel could reduce the industry's emissions by around 65%.

SAF is typically made from renewable materials, including used cooking oil, waste fats and agricultural residues. It can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without requiring changes to their engines.

However, its widespread adoption remains constrained by higher production costs, limited manufacturing capacity and restricted access to sustainable raw materials.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF currently represents less than 1% of global jet fuel consumption, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing airlines as they work towards their emissions targets.

Source: Associated Press

SalamAir has entered into a distribution agreement with travel technology company Amadeus as the Omani low-cost airline steps up efforts to expand its international presence and reach new customer segments.

Under the agreement, travel sellers connected to the Amadeus Travel Platform will gain access to SalamAir's fares and services, allowing the airline to expand its distribution network and improve the availability of its products across global markets.

Steven Allen, chief commercial officer of SalamAir, said the partnership would support the airline's growth ambitions by strengthening its international market presence and making its services more accessible to travellers seeking affordable air travel.

The agreement forms part of SalamAir's broader strategy to diversify its sales channels, increase its global visibility and respond to rising travel demand across its expanding network.

Maher Koubaa, executive vice-president of the Travel Unit and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Amadeus, said the partnership reflected the company's commitment to supporting the low-cost airline sector. He added that Amadeus' technology solutions were designed to help low-cost carriers expand and compete in international markets.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Emirates is expanding its Dubai-Durban schedule with 14 additional flights during the 2026-27 festive season, offering travellers more options during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The additional services will operate as a second daily flight between December 17 and 23, 2026, and January 2 and 8, 2027. The airline will deploy a three-class Boeing 777 on the route.

Flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30. The return service, EK2536, will leave Durban at 12:15 and land in Dubai at 22:30.

Emirates' existing daily flights, EK775 and EK776, will continue to operate according to their regular schedules.

The airline is also providing flexible booking options to help passengers manage changes to their travel plans. Customers booking flights to Dubai can change their travel dates an unlimited number of times without fees across all cabin classes. For tickets to other destinations, passengers are entitled to one complimentary date change.

Emirates' Hold My Fare service allows customers to reserve a ticket price for 24 hours at no additional cost. The airline has also reduced its refund fees.

Source: TradeArabia

Lufthansa has increased fuel loading on flights bound for Frankfurt Airport as a precautionary measure amid tighter jet fuel supplies caused by reduced pipeline capacity.

The airline said on Thursday that the move was intended to manage potential supply constraints at Germany’s largest aviation hub. Airport operator Fraport confirmed that routine maintenance was under way on a pipeline supplying jet fuel to the airport.

Fraport said the maintenance had been factored into its operational planning and was not expected to cause a fuel supply bottleneck. Alternative supply routes and sufficient storage capacity were helping to mitigate potential disruption.

“The airport's operational capability is therefore not affected,” Fraport said.

Lufthansa said it was not currently anticipating any flight cancellations as a result of the situation.

German newspaper Bild first reported the additional fuelling measures, citing internal instructions reportedly issued to Lufthansa pilots on selected routes. The practice, known as “tankering”, involves carrying more fuel than required for a flight so that an aircraft needs less or no refuelling at its destination.

According to Bild, the additional fuel carried by Airbus A320-family aircraft is limited to eight tonnes to ensure the planes can still be towed on the ground. The measures primarily affect short-haul services, although some long-haul flights are increasingly being included.

The precautionary steps are intended to give Lufthansa greater flexibility in managing its fuel requirements while pipeline maintenance continues at Frankfurt Airport.

Source: Reuters

Turkish Airlines has signed a strategic agreement with CFM International to strengthen engine maintenance capabilities and support the expansion of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

The long-term services agreement will cover the airline group's entire LEAP-1B engine fleet, including engines already ordered and delivered, spare engines, units installed on leased aircraft and potential future options. The combined total exceeds 600 engines operated by Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary, AJet.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during a ceremony in Istanbul by Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Murat Şeker; Turkish Technic CEO and Board Member, Mikail Akbulut; and Safran CEO Olivier Andriès. Safran is one of the two parent companies of CFM International.

The agreement also includes a material services arrangement to support the development of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Türkiye.

Şeker said the partnership would help Turkish Airlines accommodate fleet and network growth while improving operational efficiency. He added that the expanded services agreement would provide the technical expertise and long-term support required to develop LEAP engine maintenance capabilities.

Akbulut said the agreement would enable Turkish Technic to undertake comprehensive LEAP engine maintenance. He also reaffirmed the company's commitment to investing in engine services alongside its existing aircraft and component maintenance operations.

Andriès described the MoU as another milestone in a relationship with Turkish Airlines that has lasted nearly four decades. He said the agreement reflected both companies' ambitions to support the airline's growth and fleet expansion, while promoting an open MRO ecosystem offering flexible, competitive services to improve operational performance and control costs.

GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. also welcomed the agreement, highlighting Turkish Airlines' extensive international network and its confidence in CFM engines. He said the partnership would build on the companies' established relationship as the airline expands its Istanbul operations and engine maintenance capabilities.

Turkish Airlines currently operates 96 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines and 79 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft equipped with LEAP-1B engines.

CFM said it had delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines during the 10 years since the engine entered service, with the fleet accumulating over 100 million flight hours. The manufacturer continues to introduce upgrades, including a high-pressure turbine durability kit designed to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS).

The agreement is expected to strengthen Turkish Airlines' long-standing relationship with CFM International and support the integration of newly ordered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into its expanding fleet. The planned engine MRO facility will also enhance Turkish Technic's ability to provide comprehensive maintenance services.

Source: Turkish Airlines