Forget the present – the air routes between UAE and India will be the fastest-growing in the world between 2021 and 2039, with passenger numbers expected to grow 6.9 per cent annually. During this period, global air passenger growth could be in the range of 1.5-3.6 per cent over the same period, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The other two international routes expected to take off in a big way are China-Thailand, with 5.6 per cent annual passenger growth, and China-Japan, which will see numbers rise by 4.6 per cent every year. When it comes to domestic air travel, India is way ahead of everyone else with passenger figures expected to see a 6.2 per cent rise every year.
China will see 5 per cent growth and the US – the world’s largest aviation market – will grow only at 1.4 per cent annually.