UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Dubai International Airport, renowned as the world’s busiest hub for international travel, declared on Tuesday that it catered to 41.6 million passengers during the first half of this year. This figure surpassed the statistics for the same period in 2019, highlighting the resurgence of travellers taking to the skies post-pandemic lockdowns.
The airport, situated in the towering cityscape of Dubai and a hub for Emirates, a major long-haul carrier, has historically served as a global indicator of the aviation industry’s health. The recent statistics from DXB align with data from the International Air Transport Association, indicating that global air traffic has now reached 94% of its pre-COVID levels.
In a statement announcing the numbers, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, stated, “As we recover with our (half-year) traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we continue to remain committed to ensuring every guest who travels through our airport leaves with a smile.”
The number of passengers, which is 41.6 million, has increased by approximately 50% compared to the 27.9 million reported during the same period last year. This growth is due to airlines resuming operations with more aircraft and additional routes.
This year, the airport’s passenger traffic has been predominantly influenced by its typical travel hubs, including India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan. Additionally, Russia has played a significant role, as Dubai remains one of the limited destinations accessible to Russians due to the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Ukraine.
Dubai emerged as one of the initial cities to welcome back tourists during the pandemic, giving a significant push to its tourism sector. Iconic landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa and the luxurious Burj Al-Arab Hotel attracted not only travellers but also those in transit.
This year, Dubai surpassed its pre-pandemic six-month tourist numbers by welcoming 8.55 million international travellers. Impressively, local hotels achieved an average occupancy rate of 78%, securing a position among the globe’s leading travel destinations.
In 2022, Emirates experienced its most profitable year to date, generating a record USD 2.9 billion in earnings, thanks to the resurgence of passengers on its extended-range Boeing 777s and its double-decker Airbus A380s.
Griffiths said that due to the high demand, the airport has revised its estimated passenger count for 2023 to 85 million, which is slightly below the 86.3 million passengers it served in 2019. In 2018, the airport experienced its busiest year ever before the pandemic, with a total of 89.1 million passengers. In 2022, DXB had 66 million passengers travelling through its terminals.
“We started the second half with strong demand in July, and with the ongoing seasonal peak coinciding with the reopening of schools in August, we’re preparing for an exceptionally busy rest of the year,” said Griffiths.
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