Asian airlines that benefited from disrupted Middle East air travel during the Iran conflict are beginning to lose their competitive advantage as major Gulf carriers restore operations and attract travellers back with lower fares, according to industry data.

Carriers including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Korean Air, and ANA Holdings experienced stronger passenger demand and higher ticket prices on Europe-bound routes after Gulf airlines were forced to reduce services when regional tensions escalated. However, that trend is gradually reversing as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways return to near-normal operations.

Nathan Gee, Head of Asia-Pacific Transportation Research at BofA Global Research, said the strongest gains in seat occupancy for Asian airlines have likely already passed. While he noted that long-haul bookings are typically made up to six months in advance, allowing revenue benefits to continue into upcoming quarters, he suggested the peak improvement in load factors has already occurred.

Before the conflict, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways carried nearly one-third of passengers travelling from Asia to Europe and more than half of travellers flying from Australia and New Zealand to Europe, according to Cirium data.

Following the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, drone and missile attacks forced the temporary closure of major Gulf hub airports. By mid-June, flight activity had recovered to approximately 90% of normal levels, based on Flightradar24 tracking data.

Figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that Middle Eastern airlines reduced their year-on-year passenger decline from nearly 60% between March and May to 28%. During the same period, year-on-year growth in non-stop flights between Asia and Europe slowed significantly, easing from almost 30% in March to 15% in May.

Passenger confidence returns

Traveller confidence has also improved. In June, Australia removed its "do not travel" advisory covering Gulf transit hubs, restoring travel insurance validity for passengers using those airports. Flight Centre Travel Group reported a 36% increase in bookings with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways during the following week.

Michael Schischka, Senior Adviser at Mary Rossi Travel in Sydney, said many customers who had booked refundable backup flights with Asian airlines during the conflict are now returning to Gulf carriers as security concerns ease.

He added that most travellers now feel more comfortable transiting through the Middle East, while heavily booked Asian services and limited availability of discounted fares have also encouraged passengers to switch back to Gulf airlines.

Airline data signals gradual shift

Korean Air said its European routes recorded higher load factors between March and May compared with the previous year. However, the airline acknowledged that transfer passenger demand weakened as Gulf carriers steadily resumed operations during the second quarter.

ANA reported that its European load factor declined from 93.1% in March to 86.9% in April, although it remained 8.7 percentage points above the same period last year. Cathay Pacific also recorded slowing momentum, with its network-wide load factor rising to 86.8% in May, up two percentage points year-on-year, compared with a 9.5-point increase to 92.2% in March.

Independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie said the figures indicate a steady market rebalancing rather than a sudden reversal. He pointed to Singapore Airlines as another example, noting that its Europe load factor increased by 13.8 percentage points in March before slowing to 4.9 points in April and just 1.1 points in May.

According to Sobie, passenger demand on both European and Australian routes had largely returned to normal levels by May after the sharp increases recorded earlier in the conflict.

Despite the recovery, some travellers remain cautious. Cherie Lavin, a travel agent with Travel My Dear in Brisbane, said customers planning trips within the next one to three months are still hesitant about booking with Middle Eastern airlines. However, she added that clients planning travel for next year are showing far greater confidence and are responding positively to Gulf carrier options.

Source: ZAWYA

Al Alamein International Airport has recorded strong growth in passenger activity this year, with traveller numbers rising by 57% compared with the same period in 2025, as Egypt advances preparations for the second edition of the Egypt International Air Show (EIAS 2026) scheduled for September.

According to Egypt’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), the increase highlights the country's ongoing efforts to strengthen its civil aviation sector through infrastructure upgrades and expanded airport capacity aimed at meeting growing tourism, business and investment demand.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is continuing development projects at Al Alamein International Airport as part of a broader strategy to establish New Alamein City as a major hub for tourism, commerce and international events. The airport is being enhanced to manage higher passenger volumes and support the successful hosting of the upcoming aviation and aerospace exhibition.

EIAS 2026 is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, the Egyptian Air Force and the Egyptian Space Agency.

The IDSC said the event is expected to further elevate Egypt’s profile within the global aviation and aerospace sectors while encouraging investment, fostering strategic partnerships and facilitating the exchange of advanced technologies.

Official data showed that passenger traffic at Al Alamein International Airport reached 266,600 travellers in 2026, compared with 169,500 during the corresponding period of 2025. Aircraft movements also increased significantly, rising by approximately 26% to 3,190 flights from 2,540 flights a year earlier.

The airport currently hosts operations from 15 airlines, including Etihad Airways, flydubai, flynas, Air Cairo and Saudia. Its international network has expanded further during the 2026 summer season with the arrival of new carriers such as Romania’s TAROM, Poland’s Enter Air, Bulgaria’s BH Air and Gulf Air.

Authorities expect the number of airlines serving the airport to grow to 26 by the end of the summer season, reflecting rising international interest in Egypt’s North Coast and the growing importance of New Alamein as a destination for tourism, investment and major global events.

Source: Daily News Egypt

Abha International Airport has reached a new operational benchmark after processing more than 130 flights in a single day, setting a record for the highest daily traffic volume in the airport’s history.

The milestone was achieved on July 5, when the airport, managed by Cluster2 Airports, handled a total of 132 flights. The day's operations included 117 domestic services and 15 international flights.

According to Cluster2 Airports, the increase reflects strong travel demand during the summer season, supported by efficient airport operations and a rise in visitor arrivals. The operator noted that the Asir region’s seasonal events, scenic landscapes and cultural attractions have contributed significantly to growing passenger numbers.

The airport operator said the achievement aligns with the goals of the Aviation Programme under Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy. The initiative is focused on increasing airport capacity, improving passenger experience and raising operational efficiency across the Kingdom’s aviation network.

The latest record highlights the continued growth of air travel in southern Saudi Arabia as authorities work to strengthen the country's aviation infrastructure and tourism sector.

Source: TradeArabia

Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Airways have launched the Fast Pass biometric service, introducing facial recognition technology to streamline the passenger departure experience and reduce reliance on physical travel documents.

Developed in partnership with technology provider SITA, the system enables travellers to pass through key airport checkpoints using facial recognition instead of repeatedly presenting boarding passes or identification documents.

The rollout is among the largest biometric passenger initiatives in the Middle East and one of the most extensive globally, integrating more than 700 biometric touchpoints into a unified travel journey while incorporating security and data protection measures throughout the process.

Passengers can enrol in the Fast Pass programme through self-service check-in kiosks at Hamad International Airport or via the Qatar Airways mobile app. Once registered, they can access dedicated biometric lanes at check-in, baggage drop, security screening and boarding gates, using their face as their boarding credential.

The facial recognition process takes only a few seconds, helping to reduce waiting times and minimise document checks, particularly during peak travel periods. The service is voluntary, with conventional processing remaining available and airport staff on hand to assist passengers.

The introduction of Fast Pass comes as demand for biometric travel solutions continues to grow. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a majority of travellers now favour biometric identification over traditional paper documents.

As part of Hamad International Airport's wider Innovation Roadmap, the new system supports the airport's transition towards more efficient and digital passenger processing. Airport officials said the Fast Pass platform will be expanded to additional touchpoints over time, with plans to make the technology available to other airlines operating from HIA in the future.

Source: ZAWYA

Egypt is expected to reveal the first results of its airport public offering programme before the end of the year, according to a report by the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), citing the regional director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.

The IFC, which is serving as the Egyptian government's strategic adviser on the initiative, said progress has been made in restructuring the programme aimed at increasing private-sector involvement in the management and operation of the country's airports.

The initiative covers 11 airports, with Hurghada Airport among the first facilities planned for offering to private operators.

As part of its advisory mandate, the IFC is carrying out technical and financial evaluations, designing public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks, and promoting investment opportunities to domestic and international investors. The programme aligns with Egypt's broader economic reform strategy and the government's State Ownership Policy Document.

The airport offering initiative is intended to improve operational performance, enhance passenger services and attract fresh investment into Egypt's aviation sector by expanding the role of private operators.

According to NBK, successful implementation of the programme is expected to boost infrastructure investment, strengthen the efficiency and competitiveness of Egypt's air transport industry, and reinforce investor confidence in the country's ongoing economic reform agenda.

Source: ZAWYA