ABSTRACT
The Middle East comprises Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Israel (see Map 22.1). The six main countries that are classified as the engines of the Middle East comprise Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and are known as the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Amidst the doom and gloom of numerous wars, the Middle East air transport market is leading the world in growth and prosperity. The Middle East based airlines currently account for just 3 per cent of passengers transported worldwide and total traffic flown by all carriers to, from and within the region amounts to only 5.6 per cent of the world’s total. The region is leading the world in aircraft orders with around $85 billion being ordered over the last number of years, with $21 billion being ordered alone at the 2007 Paris air show. Their growth has caused a tectonic shift the marketplace as the Middle East based airlines now account for over 70 per cent of the manufacturers’ long-haul aircraft backlog. To support the excessive capacity on order, the governments have also committed a further $26 billion to develop the regions airports, which will undoubtedly pivot the Middle East into becoming the new face in global aviation.
