This infographic provides an overview of airline capacity in the Middle East and North Africa region, highlighting the busiest routes, airlines, airports and country markets. We know that some ambitious tourism targets have been set in the region, so let's see what the data tells us as we start a new year.

In January 2024, domestic airline capacity in the Middle East and North Africa represents 18.7% of all airline capacity, at 5,181,915 seats - 2% more seats than in January 2023. There are 22,492,777 international seats in the schedule, an increase of 11% on the same month in 2023. Overall capacity in the area has increased by 9% over the last year.

Cairo-Jeddah is the busiest international airline route in the MENA region, and the second busiest in the world this month. Saudi Arabia features heavily, with either Jeddah or Riyadh in all but one of the top five routes.

Of the top 5 country markets, only Iran has not seen capacity growth vs the same month of 2023, being down by 6%. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have all grown capacity over the year, with Qatar being the fastest growing - up 27% since January 2023 - and the UAE sitting at the top of the list.

Dubai International Airport this month overtook Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in the US as the busiest airport globally, and with 5,038,946 seats in the schedule it's the busiest airport in the Middle East & North Africa by a long way - around 2.3 million seats ahead of its closest contender for the title, Doha in Qatar.

Looking to airlines, Saudia Arabia's dominance in the top five international routes is reflected with Saudi Arabian Airlines the top carrier based on seats, with 14,131 seats in the schedule for January 2023. Coming in second place is Qatar Airways with 10,730.

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