Gulf airlines faced less optimistic growth in 2011 due to global slowdown that made the expansion of the industry more complicated and caused delays in deliveries. Surging oil prices and tensions in the Middle-East weighted on the companies' income. Despite challenges, carriers managed to expand last year but taken cooling demand in 2012 the companies' wellbeing is likely to suffer. The industry growth pace slowed to 3.6% in October on a yearly basis as compared to 5.6% in September, according to IATA data.