Middle East Narrowbody Aircraft Utilization Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Middle East's narrowbody aircraft utilization has shown a strong recovery, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. According to Aviation Week's Tracked Aircraft Utilization database, the number of flights in 2025 is approximately 30% higher than in 2019. This growth is driven by an increase in the in-service fleet, including nearly 100 Boeing 737 MAX and around 200 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The narrowbody fleet has expanded by more than a third since 2019. In contrast, the widebody market, heavily impacted by COVID-19, is still recovering but has seen a 5% increase compared to 2024.