The Middle East Commercial Aircraft Cabin Seating Market size is estimated at USD 359.57 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 503.81 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.78% during the forecast period (2024-2030).



Key Highlights


  • Narrowbody is the Largest Aircraft Type : A fleet of narrowbody aircraft adds flexibility in terms of fleet management and helps reduce the operating costs of the airlines, resulting in its rapid adoption. The demand for premium economy seats in low-cost carriers has increased.

  • Widebody is the Fastest-growing Aircraft Type : Widebody aircraft are designed primarily for long-haul flights. They have larger space to add a greater number of seats than narrowbody aircraft, resulting in the segment’s rapid growth.

  • Business and First Class is the Largest Cabin Class : The economy and premium economy cabin classes benefit from the growing emphasis on fleet expansion, passenger amenities, and comfort.

  • Saudi Arabia is the Largest Country : Saudi Arabia is expected to register a major revenue share during 2023-2029 due to the increasing air transportation rate and a rising number of commercial aircraft orders from major airlines.



Middle East Commercial Aircraft Cabin Seating Market Trends



Narrowbody is the largest Aircraft Type




  • An enhanced seating structure with more developed space than economy-class seats is becoming highly essential due to rising preferences for travelers. The widebody aircraft dominated the number of deliveries in the Middle East with an overall share of 52% during 2017-2022. In 2022, the narrowbody segment accounted for 80% of the overall seats for the aircraft delivered in the region. In terms of cabin class, economy and premium economy seats accounted for 92% of the overall seats in 2022. This was due to travel restrictions, including domestic and intercontinental flights, and new aircraft procurement was also impacted by delays in adding new aircraft to airline fleets.

  • The adoption of narrowbody aircraft in the longer haul routes by the Middle East airlines has increased, aiding the deployment of ergonomic seats in narrowbody aircraft. The airlines such as Emirates have focused on increasing their number of business class seats as well as improving the customer experience. The airlines in the region have started emphasizing the adoption of lighter seats.

  • It is expected that around 680+ aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in the region with major markets such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates during 2023-2029. The fleet expansion plans in the region are expected to aid the procurement of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft. This will, in turn, be expected to drive the growth of the region’s commercial aircraft cabin seating market in the forecast period.



Saudi Arabia is the largest Country




  • Customer experience is always the top priority for airlines. Dissatisfied or disengaged customers inevitably result in fewer passengers and reduced profits for airlines. It is vital for passengers to have a positive experience whenever they travel. In order to provide the best experience, airlines in the Middle East are focused on modernized cabin seats that provide comfort and overall enjoyment to passengers during their travel.

  • The increase in air passenger traffic will eventually drive new aircraft procurements, which, in turn, will boost the demand for better aircraft seating. In 2021, air passenger traffic across the Middle Eastern region was 302 million people, which was a growth of 249% compared to 2020 and 2019, when the growth rate was 25%. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar account for 55% of the total air passenger traffic. This situation will generate high demand for new aircraft in the region.

  • The increasing air passenger traffic will eventually drive aircraft orders and deliveries. Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Flydubai have ordered a total of 632 commercial aircraft, including narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. These fleet expansion programs in the region have boosted the demand for aircraft seats. Airline companies in the Middle Eastern region have started adopting lighter seats for the reduction in the overall weight of aircraft. This upgrade will also improve efficiency and promote better utilization of cabin spaces. Factors such as these are expected to drive the demand in the aircraft seat market in the region.



Middle East Commercial Aircraft Cabin Seating Industry Overview



The Middle East Commercial Aircraft Cabin Seating Market is fairly consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 90.40%. The major players in this market are Adient Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, Expliseat, Recaro Group and Safran (sorted alphabetically).



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