Six months into Middle East war, air traffic slowly returns

Six months after the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, global air travel is showing signs of recovery, though challenges persist. The war, which began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent Iranian counterstrikes, severely impacted air traffic worldwide, including at Vienna Airport.

Major aviation hubs in the Gulf, such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, experienced temporary shutdowns or severe restrictions. This led to tens of thousands of travelers being stranded and numerous flight cancellations or diversions. In Vienna alone, 43 flights carrying approximately 9,000 passengers were canceled during the first weekend of the conflict. The Austrian Foreign Ministry organized four repatriation flights, assisting over 800 citizens returning from Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Julian Jäger, CEO of Vienna Airport, reported that while the immediate impact was severe, the situation is improving. "We have around 560,000 fewer passengers from the Middle East than expected. The immediate decline was sharp, currently we are still losing about 50,000 passengers per month. We expect it to get better in the fall," he stated. Flight offerings have largely recovered, with Middle East airlines resuming their previous schedules, reaching pre-war levels by August.

However, passenger demand has not fully rebounded. Aircraft utilization remains below previous levels. Travel patterns have also shifted, with more passengers transiting through Dubai rather than using it as a final destination. While flights to Israel, including Austrian Airlines' service to Tel Aviv, have resumed, the overall demand for travel to certain destinations, like Dubai among Austrians, appears to have decreased compared to previous years. The airport is also introducing new routes, such as Royal Jordanian to Amman and SalamAir to Muscat.

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We have around 560,000 fewer passengers from the Middle East than expected. The immediate decline was sharp, currently we are still losing about 50,000 passengers per month. We expect it to get better in the fall.