📈 Mideast Airport Revenues Plunge by US$ 1 Bn Amid Conflict

A joint assessment by ACI APAC and MID and Flare Aviation Consulting reveals massive disruptions for nine major Middle East hubs over March and April 2026. • Financial Impact: Estimated revenue losses hit US$ 900 Mn to US$ 1 Bn, representing a steep 55% shortfall against budgeted expectations of US$ 1.3-1.4 Bn. • Passenger Traffic Slump: Passenger volume plummeted by 54% YoY, translating to a loss of 27 million travelers (down 57% in March and 50% in April). The drop severely impacts global transit corridors that handled 324 million passengers in 2025. • Capacity & Connectivity: Flight capacity averaged just 53% of pre-conflict levels. The crisis wiped out nearly one-fifth of global East-West connecting capacity, disrupting 97,000 daily transit passengers. • Cargo & Logistics: Cargo volumes fell 52% YoY to 571,000 tonnes (compared to 1.19 Mn tonnes in 2025). March took the hardest hit with a 59% decline. • Spillover on Asia Routes: Airfares on Asia-West routes more than doubled in March and remained 50% higher by mid-year. While broader Asia-Pacific traffic remained resilient, direct routes to the Middle East saw declines. • Operational Hurdles: Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled, becoming the primary operational challenge for operators. Airport charges remained static due to regulatory frameworks, compounding cash flow pressures.