Once a mere refueling stop and transhipment hub for traffic between Europe and the Far East, the Middle East region has rapidly grown into a one of the fastest growing air cargo markets in the world. Aggressive airline expansion has seen record setting orders for aircraft and phenomenal airport and logistics infrastructure projects across the region.
The growth and expansion is most visible in the United Arab Emirates with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah leading the pack. Nearby, Qatar and Bahrain are eagerly following suit in terms of both carrier and infrastructure expansion. Saudia Arabia and Jordan are also rapidly building up their market shares.
But while the Middle East was insulated from the global economic turmoil longer than other regions, its inseparable connection to the rest of the world has brought the downturn home. Will the infrastructure plans and plane orders ultimately be the region’s undoing, or will it ride out the turmoil and be well placed to take advantage of the ultimate upturn? Rumours have also begun to swirl of an impending carrier consolidation within the region, which given that many of the carriers operating out of the Middle East – with the notable exception being Emirates – have been oozing various amounts of red ink, it seems a highly likely scenario.
These issues and more will be explored in the Middle East Air Cargo Supplement in the next issue of Payload Asia. Leading air cargo carriers, freight forwarders and airports interested in the Middle East air cargo market will use this issue to showcase their products and services, while it will offer international suppliers to reach potential buyers in the region.
For advertising in the February supplement, please contact Alvin Lim of Reed Business Information at email: [email protected] or call him at +65 6780 4521 (GMT +8). For editorial coverage please contact Donald Urquhart at email: [email protected],or call him at +65 6780 4396 (GMT +8).