How Middle Eastern carriers will sustain global lead

• Region’s airlines not just expanding but transforming

Long celebrated for its super-connector hubs and world-class service, the region’s airlines now face the dual challenge of sustaining growth and adapting to shifting market pressures.

Few are better positioned to interpret that challenge than Shahab Matin, Boeing’s   Managing Director of Commercial Marketing for the Middle East and Africa.

Speaking with Aviation Business Middle East, Matin outlined how evolving fleets, infrastructure, and networking strategies will shape the next two decades of air travel in the region.

A market outperforming global averages

According to Boeing’s latest Commercial Market Outlook, Middle Eastern passenger traffic is expected to grow by 4.4 per cent annually through 2044, outpacing the global average.

The region’s economies may represent only 3.7 per cent of global GDP; however, its airlines deliver around 10 per cent of worldwide airline capacity, a ratio demonstrating the Middle East has long punched above its weight in the sector.

Matin explains, “The region’s success stems from a mix of geography, investment, and vision,” further noting that, “Its position at the crossroads of East and West, combined with world-class carriers and infrastructure, has made it a global aviation hub.”

Some 700 Boeing commercial aircraft currently operate in the Middle East, with a further 600 currently on order, indicating strong long-term confidence.

Matin added that the Middle East’s growth will continue to hinge on long-haul operations, where “Widebodies remain the backbone of the region’s long-haul strategy,” emphasising that, “They enable one-stop connectivity between distant city pairs that wouldn’t otherwise be economically viable.”

The evolution of the super-connector

As competition intensifies from new hubs across Asia and Africa, Gulf carriers are responding with larger fleets, upgraded airports, and digital transformation programmes.

“Gulf airlines built their reputation on strategic geography, premium service, and relentless fleet investment,” Matin said. “Now they’re modernising again, adopting next-generation aircraft to increase route flexibility, reduce emissions, and open new markets.”

Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport is set to become the world’s largest, with capacity for 260 million passengers annually, while Abu Dhabi’s new Midfield Terminal and Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport, projected to handle 120 million passengers by 2030, will vanguard the region’s aviation capacity.

“These developments will consolidate the Gulf’s position as the global crossroads for aviation,” Matin observed. “It’s about building the infrastructure to match demand for the next generation of travellers.”

Single-aisle jets and regional networks

The growth story, however, isn’t limited to long-haul. Matin pointed out that the next major expansion phase will come from single-aisle aircraft, which already make up about half of the Middle Eastern fleet.

“The rise of low-cost carriers across Asia and Africa shows how essential affordable, point-to-point connectivity has become,” he said. “For Gulf airlines, the key is to complement, not compromise, their premium positioning.”

Single-aisle jets such as Boeing’s 737 MAX family allow carriers to serve emerging regional markets more efficiently while maintaining global network feed. “They enable year-round, high-frequency operations and greater scheduling flexibility,” Matin explained. “At the same time, shared pilot pools and maintenance systems help reduce costs.”

Between 2025 and 2044, Boeing forecasts 1,430 single-aisle aircraft deliveries to the Middle East, with 67 per cent representing new growth rather than replacement, underlining the scale of the opportunity. Investment due to connect regional populations to South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, while feeding long-haul networks that define Gulf carriers’ success.”

Technology, efficiency and sustainability

Behind the impressive fleet numbers lies a broader transformation. Boeing’s long-term outlook sees airlines across the Middle East investing heavily in fuel-efficient aircraft, digital maintenance systems, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to reduce operating costs and emissions simultaneously.

“Efficiency is the unifying theme,” Matin tells us. “Whether it’s digital optimisation, route planning, or next-generation aircraft, everything points toward greater sustainability and operational intelligence.”

With governments investing in renewable energy, hydrogen research, and carbon-reduction initiatives, the shift to greener aviation is accelerating, and manufacturers are under increasing pressure to deliver technologies that enable measurable impact.

“The region’s airlines are not just expanding; they’re transforming,” Matin concluded. “They’re investing in the fleets, technologies, and partnerships that will define global aviation leadership for the next 20 years.”

Wole Shadare