• RESILIENCE
The region's airlines not only restored schedules but simultaneously executed long-term growth strategies. Emirates quickly restored approximately 96% of its global network, operating services to destinations across seven countries with more than 1,300 weekly frequencies, while maintaining customer support measures for affected passengers throughout the disruption. Reflecting on the group's record financial performance for 2025/26, despite the challenges experienced during the final month of the financial year, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the results reaffirmed the strength and resilience of Emirates' business model. Etihad Airways adopted a similarly forward-looking approach. Entering its largest summer programme to date, the airline operated more than 300 flights each day, increasing capacity by 10% year-on- year with the addition of 23 aircraft while launching or resuming services to nine destinations, including Kraków, Palma de Mallorca, Damascus and Zanzibar. The airline also introduced complimentary medical travel insurance for eligible international visitors travelling to Abu Dhabi, reinforcing confidence among inbound travellers. “Supported by 23 additional aircraft and strong demand from across the world, we continue to grow with confidence, expanding our network, increasing capacity and bringing more visitors to Abu Dhabi,” commented Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves. Qatar Airways likewise continued rebuilding momentum, announcing services to more than 160 destinations during summer 2026 while restoring operations across key global markets. Combined with an industry-leading on- time performance of more than 84% and continued investment in onboard technology, including Starlink connectivity, the airline demonstrated that operational resilience and customer experience remain closely linked. Across the wider region, carriers including flydubai, Air Arabia and the newly launched Riyadh Air also continued expanding their networks, reinforcing a broader industry trend. For the tourism industry, that may prove to be one of the defining lessons of 2026 Aviation resilience is not only measured by the speed at which flights return to normal, but by the ability of airports, airlines and governments to maintain confidence, preserve connectivity and continue investing in future growth despite ongoing disruption.
CONFIDENCE RETURNING The recovery of aviation networks was only part of the story. The more meaningful test for the tourism industry was whether travellers would return once connectivity was restored. Across the Middle East, the evidence suggests they did. Hotels benefited from a combination of domestic travel, intra-GCC tourism, wholesale bookings and the return of long- haul international markets. That breadth of demand helped the sector rebuild momentum quickly while preserving occupancy, average daily rates and forward bookings. Minor Hotels' performance offers a useful illustration of that trend. Operating 26 properties across the Middle East, the group reported a sharp acceleration in bookings during the second half of June as traveller confidence returned across key regional and international markets. Room-night bookings increased by 143% during the final full week of the month compared with previous weeks, with the strongest pickup recorded for the third quarter. Perhaps more significantly, wholesale bookings, which had been among the segments most affected by the disruption, increased by 575% over the same period, driven by renewed demand from international markets including the UK, Germany and Russia. At the same time, the group's average daily rate (ADR) for Q3 was pacing 17.1% ahead of the same period in 2025, demonstrating that recovery was driven by healthy demand rather than discounting.
Regional travel also played an important role. Staycations and intra-GCC demand contributed to a record-breaking Eid Al Adha period for the Thai-based operator, with revenue increasing by 23% compared with Eid Al Adha 2025. These trends suggest that a diversified visitor base has become an increasingly important source of resilience for Minor Hotels and other hospitality operators across the Middle East. Amir Golbarg, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & Africa at Minor Hotels, says the strength of the rebound reflects confidence in the region's long-term tourism fundamentals rather than a short-term recovery. “Our confidence in the Middle East has never wavered," he said. “Travellers are eager to resume both business and leisure travel across the region, and we're seeing strong momentum heading into Q3, 2026... At the same time, we continue to invest in the region's long-term future through new hotel signings, market entries and the expansion of our brand portfolio.” Perhaps the strongest signal, however, came not from booking data but from investment decisions. Rather than pausing expansion plans, many of the region's largest hospitality developers continued to commit capital to long-term tourism projects. Minor Hotels reinforced its confidence through the signing of Sharjah Collection, adding seven nature-led and heritage- inspired properties to its UAE portfolio. Elsewhere, work has continued on projects
40 | ATM YEARBOOK 2026
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