AACO attributes pax fluctuations in Jun/Jul-2016 to timing of Ramadan and Eid

Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) attributed (14-Sep-2016) year-on-year fluctuations in international passenger numbers in Jun/Jul-2016 to the seasonality of Ramadan and Eid El-Fitr. Passenger numbers decreased 4.4% in Jun-2016 and increased 11.4% in Jul-2016. Capacity to, from and within the Arab world increased 8.5% in Jul-2016. Europe accounted for 28.9% of total available seats, mid Asia accounted for 18.8%, Australasia accounted for 9.8%, the Americas accounted for 3.3%, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 4.4% and the Arab world (domestic and international) accounted for 34.8%. Dubai International Airport was the top airport by available international seats, with 10.06 million, followed by Doha Hamad International Airport with 4.25 million and Abu Dhabi International Airport with 2.79 million. Istanbul Ataturk Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Paris CDG Airport, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Paris Orly Airport also ranked among the top 20 airports for seats on services to, from and within the Arab world. AACO member airlines added 21 new aircraft between Apr-2016 and Jul-2016. [more - original PR - English/Arabic]