São Paulo – The Middle East should post the world’s highest growth rate in aircraft passenger numbers in the next twenty years. According to a report released this Thursday (16th) by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of air passengers in the region will grow by 4.9% until 2034, the world’s highest alongside the Asia-Pacific region, which should increase at the same rate.
IATA’s report forecasts an extra 237 million passengers flying on routes to, from and within the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates (5.6%), Qatar (4.8%) and Saudi Arabia (4.6%) should grow the most in the region.
Africa and Latin America will grow at 4.7% per year each. According to the IATA, the African continent will see an additional 177 million passengers a year until 2034.
Latin American countries are expected to add 363 million passengers each year. North America (3.3%) and Europe (2.7%) should grow at lesser rates.
IATA’s report also highlights that Brazil should go from 10th to 5th in passenger numbers and add 170 million people per year. As a result, the country joins the list of fastest growing markets in number of additional passengers, next to China, United States, India, and Indonesia.
The report forecasts an average annual growth of 4.1% worldwide, to an expected 7.3 billion in 2034. This year, 3.3 billion people around the world are expected to travel by air.
“It is an exciting prospect to think that in the next 20 years more than twice as many passengers as today will have the chance to fly. Air connectivity on this scale will help transform economic opportunities for millions of people,” said IATA’s director general and CEO Tony Tyler, according to the press release.
“At present, aviation helps sustain 58 million jobs and $2.4 trillion in economic activity. In 20 years’ time we can expect aviation to be supporting around 105 million jobs and $6 trillion in GDP,” said Tyler.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
