Dubai – Decypha: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to see a 6.3% growth in the number of airport passengers, the highest growth rate in the region, according to a forecast by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA additionally forecasts an increase of 258 million passengers a year on routes to and from the Middle East by 2035.

The prediction is despite global economy turbulences and more importantly the recent ban of electronic devices by the Trump administration and the UK.

The ban includes any devices larger than a regular mobile, such as tablets, laptops, and anything that measures larger than 16cm x 9.3cm.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates revealed recently that the company has considered “loaning laptops to passengers.” Other options suggested was to allow passengers to use their laptops right up until boarding, but more recently.

Airlines affected by the US ban include: Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

While the UK ban includes: British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Tunis Air, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, and Saudia.

Across GCC a number of aviation mega-projects are underway, with capacity forecasted for 2017 to reach 10.1%. Meanwhile, the number of Middle East passenger in general are only expected to rise by 9% during the same period.

By Decypha Editorial Team