RIYADH: Airlines operating in the Middle East witnessed a 9.6 percent growth in passenger demand in June compared to the same period in 2023, driven by the summer holiday season, according to an industry body.  The International Air Transport Association revealed that the total capacity of Middle Eastern flights also surged by 9.4 percent year-on-year in June.  IATA said that the total load factor among carriers in the region stood at 79.7 percent in June, representing a marginal increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to the same month of the previous year.