Although IATA recently announced a dramatic turnaround in its predictions for the world’s airline industry, saying that instead of a loss it saw the possibility of a profit by the end of the financial year, most carriers are still desperately trying to cut costs to cope with the devastation wrought on their finances during the global economic downturn. Not so in the Middle East, according to a recent report.

Consultancy firm Alixpartners claims that whilst many airlines are licking their wounds and will continue to do so for a number of years, Middle Eastern carriers look set to double in size over the next decade. The report predicts that airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways will carry on challenging other, more established airlines for a larger share of their international travel market as well as their cargo routes.

Emirates has already announced that over the next eight years it wants to grow its fleet by at least 100 aircraft. There are even rumours that the airline will be announcing another order for Airbus A380s at the Farnborough Airshow in July. Emirates has only just placed an order for 32 of the superjumbos to be added to its shopping cart.

Of the current backlog of A380 orders, the Middle East is responsible for 40 per cent of the 180 aircraft waiting to be delivered. Alixpartners predict that the next 10 years will see airlines such as Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, and Emirates and Dubai Airways responsible for driving growth within the airline industry.