International Air Traffic Association (IATA) data shows that Middle Eastern airlines achieved double digit growth last month even as global growth declined 3.1%.   Passenger demand increased 11.2% in April 2009 compared to the same month last year and airline capacity increased 12.3%. IATA increased its projected loss figure for Middle Eastern Airlines to Dh 3.3 billion - more than four times the previous projected loss.

However, IATA said the only other region to experience a growth in passenger demand was Latin America with 7.5%, in excess of a 6.5% increase in capacity.   Passenger numbers for European carriers fell 2.7% while capacity was adjusted downward by 2.6%. Asia Pacific’s fall in demand was 8.6% against a negative capacity adjustment of 7.4%