National airlines have continued to strengthen their presence in the regional aviation market throughout February, driven by a sustained recovery in travel demand, expansion of operational networks, and an increase in flight frequencies to key destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Data from the international agency “OAG,” which provides airport and airline information, shows that Emirates Airlines leads in terms of seating capacity, scheduling nearly 3 million seats for February. This represents a 3% increase compared to the same month in 2025, reflecting the stability of its operational strategy focused on enhancing efficiency and maximizing the utilization of its wide-body fleet, while maintaining strong operational rates through its hub in Dubai.
Fastest Growth
On the other hand, Etihad Airways has emerged as one of the fastest-growing carriers in the region regarding seating capacity, with an increase of 21.7% year-on-year, reaching approximately 1.25 million seats this February, compared to around 1 million seats in the same month last year.
This rapid growth indicates a new expansion phase for the airline, centered on adding new destinations, increasing frequencies on existing routes, and introducing additional aircraft into service as part of a strategy aimed at regaining market share and enhancing profitability by improving load factors and optimizing destination mix.
Fly Dubai has also continued to enhance its regional and international presence, registering about 1.2 million seats in February, marking a growth of 9.6% compared to the same period in 2025.
This performance reflects the carrier’s network expansion, particularly in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, along with increased flight frequencies to high-demand destinations.
Air Arabia also recorded strong performance, with its seating capacity reaching approximately 853,000 seats in February, a year-on-year growth of 14.7%, confirming the ongoing demand for budget travel in the region.
This growth is driven by the airline’s expansion across its various operational centers, increasing the number of flights to regional and international destinations, as well as leveraging the flexibility of its all-narrow-body fleet.
Collectively, these indicators reflect the continued momentum, spread, and expansion in the national aviation sector, supported by a stable operational environment and advanced infrastructure that fosters growth, alongside the country’s position as a global hub for transit travel.