Global demand for air travel continued its steady ascent in 2025, expanding by 5.3% compared to 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The growth, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), signaled a return to long-term industry trends following the post-pandemic surge.

Airline capacity, tracked in available seat kilometres (ASKs), grew by 5.2% last year, while passenger load factors edged up to an all-time high of 83.6%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from 2024.

Middle East Delivers Strong Traffic Growth

Carriers in the Middle East emerged as top performers in 2025, posting a 6.7% jump in traffic over the previous year. Capacity expanded by 5.8%, driving load factors up 0.7 percentage points to 81.6%. December wrapped up strongly, with a 9.5% year-on-year rise in regional demand.

International and Domestic Market Trends

On the international front, passenger demand for 2025 rose by 7.1%, alongside a 6.8% capacity gain. The global international load factor reached a record 83.5%, up slightly from the prior year.

Domestic travel growth remained more modest, with demand up 2.4% and capacity up 2.5%, producing an average load factor of 83.7%, down marginally by 0.1 points.

December concluded on a positive note, as overall traffic grew 5.6%, capacity increased 5.9%, and load factors held steady at 83.7%.

IATA: Focus on Sustainability and Supply Chains

“The 5.3% increase in air travel last year reflects the industry’s return to pre-pandemic growth norms,” IATA stated. “As we move forward, two key issues—decarbonization and supply chain stability—will define aviation’s ability to meet future demand.”

IATA emphasized that achieving climate goals requires clear policy support from governments to expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and ensure energy sector collaboration.

Persistent supply chain disruptions were another hurdle for airlines in 2025, creating what IATA called "the industry's biggest frustration of the year.” Aircraft and engine delivery delays, maintenance backlogs, and related cost pressures—estimated at over $11 billion—forced airlines to extend fleet usage and increase seat occupancy.

“With aircraft nearly 84% full, these temporary fixes were effective but not sustainable,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “The industry needs lasting solutions. Ideally, 2025 marks the low point of the supply chain crisis, paving the way for recovery in 2026. Every new plane in service represents cleaner operations and greater capacity for passengers.”

Regional Highlights

Asia-Pacific airlines led global growth, reporting a 10.9% increase in international RPKs and a 10.2% rise in capacity. Their load factor climbed to 84.4%, the highest of any region.

Europe saw international demand increase 6.0%, with capacity up 5.9% and load factors holding at 84.1%.

North American carriers reported more modest figures, with traffic up 2.1% and capacity up 2.4%—the slowest growth among all regions. Load factors dipped slightly to 83.9%.

Latin American airlines recorded an 8.6% rise in annual traffic, but capacity growth outpaced demand at 10.2%, pulling load factors down 1.2 points to 83.6%.

African carriers achieved a 7.8% annual traffic increase with capacity up 6.5%, pushing load factors to a record 74.9%, the largest improvement among all regions despite being the lowest overall.

Domestic Market Performance

Domestic air travel also reached record highs in 2025, though growth moderated after the previous year’s rebound. Brazil topped the charts with an 11.1% rise in passenger traffic, while the United States experienced a 0.6% decline.

Japan posted the strongest improvement in load factor (+3.4 percentage points), in contrast to the U.S., where the load factor dropped by 1.9 points. India maintained the world’s highest domestic load factor at 85.2%, even with a small decrease. Australia recorded the lowest at a still-solid 81.2%.

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), has announced the opening of SEVEN Tabuk, expanding its entertainment network and supporting the Kingdom’s quality-of-life and regional development goals under Saudi Vision 2030.

SEVEN Chairman Abdullah Al Dawood said the opening represents another step in the company’s strategy to develop accessible entertainment destinations that are closely connected to the communities they serve.

SEVEN Tabuk is the company’s second entertainment destination, following SEVEN Abha, as SEVEN continues its plans to establish destinations across Saudi Arabia.

Located within Tabuk city, the fully indoor, all-weather destination is designed for everyday entertainment, offering residents and visitors a wide range of activities without requiring long-distance travel.

The destination operates from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on weekends and from 4:00 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, while Scene Cinemas operates daily from 4:00 p.m. until 3:30 a.m.

SEVEN Tabuk combines international attractions with locally developed concepts. Key offerings include Discovery Adventures, featuring immersive exploration-themed environments, and Hot Wheels E-Karting, an interactive karting experience inspired by the global brand.

The destination also features SEVEN’s homegrown concepts, including Kawaken, Kawaken Junior, GolFi, Cyber Bowling and Scene Cinemas, providing entertainment options for families, young people and a broad range of visitors.

Beyond entertainment, SEVEN Tabuk is expected to contribute to the city’s wider development by supporting local employment and strengthening partnerships with local businesses.

The opening further reinforces Tabuk’s position as an emerging leisure destination in northern Saudi Arabia while expanding access to entertainment experiences across the Kingdom.

Source: SPA

Green spaces and public parks across Makkah are playing an important role in improving the city’s urban environment and creating more comfortable spaces for residents, visitors and pilgrims.

The city has 290 public parks, many of which feature landscaped green areas, safe pedestrian walkways, sports facilities, courtyards, shaded seating areas, service amenities and playgrounds.

These spaces help provide shade, reduce heat absorption from urban surfaces and offer areas for movement, recreation and rest.

The development and maintenance of parks are particularly important in Makkah, which welcomes millions of pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors throughout the year.

Expanding landscaping, shaded areas and open pedestrian spaces forms part of broader efforts to improve the pilgrim experience by creating a more comfortable and accessible urban environment.

The parks also complement Makkah’s wider network of services and facilities, supporting the city’s efforts to enhance quality of life while accommodating the needs of its residents and millions of visitors.

Source: SPA

Irqah Village, one of the oldest settlements in Riyadh Region, is showcasing more than 1,000 years of history through its traditional architecture, heritage sites and cultural experiences.

Once a thriving agricultural center, the village developed around mud-brick homes, historic mosques, farms and water sources, creating a distinctive architectural and social identity.

At the heart of the historic village, Bayt Isa recreates aspects of traditional Najdi life through its majlis, cafés, heritage pathways, courtyards and rooftops. The heritage house offers visitors an immersive experience reflecting the architectural style and social traditions of the Najdi environment.

Handicrafts further enrich the experience, with workshops helping revive traditional skills passed down through generations. Local outlets also provide artisans with opportunities to display and sell their work, linking cultural heritage with its social and economic roots.

Since opening, Irqah Village has welcomed more than 15,000 visitors, supported over 50 cottage-industry families and hosted filming by more than 20 production companies.

The village has also generated more than three million digital views and interactions, highlighting its growing popularity and the potential of its heritage spaces for tourism, culture and creative activities.

Source: SPA

Al-Khabra Boulevard has emerged as a prominent economic and tourism destination in Qassim Region, benefiting from its strategic location along King Fahd Road on the Qassim-Madinah Expressway.

The boulevard serves as an attractive stop for travelers while providing a platform to showcase and market the region’s agricultural, handicraft and heritage products, particularly dates.

Spanning approximately 50,000 square meters, the project includes around 160 shops and 40 kiosks, offering space for commercial activities, festivals and seasonal events.

The destination combines retail activity with tourism and entertainment, supporting farmers, cottage-industry families and entrepreneurs while helping local businesses reach a wider consumer base.

Its design draws inspiration from Najdi identity and local architecture, with dedicated areas for agricultural products, food, handicrafts and entertainment activities. These elements add a cultural and heritage dimension to the visitor experience.

Al-Khabra Boulevard demonstrates how strategically located roadside developments can contribute to the local economy by promoting regional products, supporting small businesses and strengthening tourism activity across Qassim.

Source: SPA