The ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East has dealt a staggering blow to global aviation, with nine of the region’s largest airports losing between $900 million and $1 billion in revenue in just two months, according to a new industry assessment released by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East. The report, covering the period from the onset of the conflict through 30 April 2026, paints a stark picture of grounded aircraft, empty transit lounges, disrupted cargo corridors, and soaring airfares — underscoring how instability in the Middle East is rippling far beyond the region.
Airport revenues across the nine hubs fell 55 percent below budgeted expectations, compared with projected revenues of $1.3–1.4 billion, placing significant financial strain on operators managing high fixed-cost infrastructure and long-term capital commitments.
27 million passengers vanish from the region’s skies
Passenger traffic across the affected airports dropped by an estimated 27 million travellers during March and April, representing a 54 percent year-on-year decline. March recorded the sharpest fall, with nearly 14 million passengers lost, down 57 percent, followed by another 13 million decline in April, down 50 percent.
The scale of disruption is particularly striking given that the same airports handled around 324 million passengers in 2025, serving as critical gateways linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At the height of the crisis, the nine airports operated at just 32 percent of scheduled capacity, before gradually recovering to around 63 percent by late April. Overall, average flight operations stood at just 53 percent of pre-conflict capacity.
One-fifth of global East-West connectivity disappears
Perhaps most alarming is the broader impact on international aviation. According to the report, the disruption temporarily removed nearly 20 percent of the world’s East-West connecting capacity, affecting around 97,000 daily transit passengers who typically travel through Middle Eastern hubs.
The fallout was quickly felt in ticket pricing. On major Asia-West corridors, airfares reportedly more than doubled in March and remained around 50 percent above normal levels by mid-year, driven by reduced competition, longer routings, and limited seat capacity. For travellers heading between Europe, Asia, and Australasia, the region’s traditionally seamless transit model has been severely disrupted, forcing airlines to reroute aircraft, add flight time, and absorb significantly higher fuel costs.
Cargo volumes collapse as supply chains feel the strain
It wasn’t just passengers who disappeared. Cargo throughput across the nine airports plunged 52 percent year-on-year, falling to 571,000 tonnes, compared with 1.19 million tonnes during the same period in 2025. March saw the sharpest cargo decline at 59 percent, while April showed modest recovery but remained 43 percent below prior-year levels. Given the region’s role as a major logistics bridge between East and West, analysts warn the impact could be felt across industries ranging from electronics and pharmaceuticals to e-commerce and perishables.
Jet fuel, not supply, emerges as aviation’s biggest threat
A separate survey of 28 airport operators found that the biggest operational concern is no longer fuel availability, but fuel affordability. Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled compared with pre-conflict levels, intensifying pressure on airlines already grappling with rerouted operations, inflation, and aircraft supply-chain delays. Talking about the findings, Stefano Baronci, Director General of Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East, said: “The scale of disruption observed over two months underscores the critical role of airports as enablers of connectivity, socio-economic growth, and passenger experience. The aviation ecosystem in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East is proving resilient, but we are at a critical juncture.” He warned that if instability continues into the peak summer travel period, the economic sustainability of the airport sector could come under even greater pressure.
A slow ‘swoosh-shaped’ recovery ahead
Despite signs of gradual improvement, the report predicts a “swoosh-shaped” recovery, with recovery dependent on airspace normalisation, fuel price stability, and network rebuilding by airlines. For now, one thing is clear: what began as a regional conflict has rapidly evolved into one of 2026’s biggest shocks to global aviation, reminding the industry just how interconnected — and vulnerable — the world’s skies remain.
