Airlines operating in the Middle East saw a 3.3% increase in passenger demand in February, with total flight capacity rising 1.3% during the same period, according to the International Air Transport Association. The Middle East is focusing on boosting the aviation sector to diversify their economies away from oil dependency. Saudi Arabia aims to triple passenger numbers by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The report also revealed that air cargo demand declined slightly by 0.1% in February compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since mid-2023.