Middle East aviation market
Monthly Middle Eastern airline data updates
June 2026
Which is the biggest airline in the Middle East? Where is the busiest airport in the region? Which countries have the most airline capacity and how is this split between low-cost and mainline carriers? All of these questions and more are answered in our monthly Middle East aviation data analysis and commentary. Data is sourced from OAG's Schedules Analyser; a cutting-edge platform for airline schedule analysis.
Download this month's dataEnter your email for instant access.
Airline capacity in the Middle East
In the Middle East this month there are 30.6M scheduled airline seats, -15.9% year-on-year
- Capacity across the Middle East is down by 15.9% in June 26 vs last year, to 30.6m seats, following the ongoing impacts of war in the region.
- International capacity, which represents 86.2% of the market, has dropped by 17.6% vs June 25 to 26.4m seats resulting in 5.6m fewer seats.
- Domestic capacity accounts for 13.8% of the market and fell by 4% vs June 25.
*As of July 2025, international capacity is reported on a two-way basis (previously one-way departing).
How is capacity split between low-cost and mainline in the Middle East?
- Low Cost Carriers represent 26% of the market and reduced capacity by 20.5% vs last year.
- Mainline carriers account for the remaining 74% of the capacity in the market and contracted by 14.2% vs last year to 22.6m seats.
*As of July 2025, international capacity is reported on a two-way basis (previously one-way departing).
Top 10 Middle East country markets
Which Middle Eastern Country Has Most Airline Capacity?
- Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the region, with 6.5m seats. Capacity is down by 8.8% vs last year (621,500 fewer seats).
- Capacity in the United Arab Emirates in June is 21.9% lower than June 25 (1.6m fewer seats).
- Within the Top 10 countries, capacity only grew in Israel, increasing by 22.9% to 1.1m seats in June 26.
- Capacity fell by a further 36.6%% in Iran (485,700 fewer seats) vs June 25.
Top 10 Middle East airports
Which is the Busiest Airport in the Middle East?
- Dubai (DXB) remains the region's largest airport, handling 3.7m seats. Capacity is down however by just over a quarter, with 1.3m fewer seats than in June 25.
- Jeddah remains the second busiest airport in the region with 2.2m seats. Capacity is down by 12.7% vs last year - 320,300 fewer seats.
- Volume wise, Doha has the second largest reduction in capacity, with 570,300 fewer seats, a 21.4% reduction in capacity vs June 25.
- Tel Aviv was the only airport to see capacity grow in June 26, up 20.1% which is 178,300 more seats than last June.
Top 10 Middle East airlines (one way, departing seats)
Which is the biggest Middle Eastern airline?
- Emirates remains the largest airline in the region, with the network carrier scheduling 2.6m seats, which is 18% lower than June 25.
- Amongst the Top 10 carriers in the Middle East, Royal Jordanian, flyadeal and Etihad Airways were the only airlines to record capacity growth this month, increasing by 29%, 13% and 8% respectively vs last year.