Dubai airport surpasses pre-pandemic levels in passenger traffic
Airports operator says 49% surge in traffic to 41.6 million reported in first half of the year
August 22, 2023
DUBAI: Dubai's main airport topped the pre-pandemic passenger volume in the first half of 2023, reporting a 49% surge in traffic to 41.6 million, operator Dubai Airports said on Tuesday.
The operator said that the second quarter of 2019 helped the recovery reach just over 100% of traffic levels in the first half, surging about 43% from the second quarter of 2022 to 20.3 million passengers.
Dubai, the tourism and trade hub of the Middle East, was quick to reopen after the pandemic. That, along with an influx of Russians and business professionals as well as relaxed social and visa rules, helped fuel an economic recovery that has also seen property prices and rents balloon.
Dubai Airports adjusted its forecast for 2023 to 85 million passengers from 83.6 million, "just 1.6% shy of DXB's (Dubai International) annual traffic in 2019," Chief Executive Paul Griffiths said in a statement.
"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."
DXB's annual passenger traffic last year was 66.1 million, Dubai Airports said in February.
The airport flew 201,800 flights in the first half, up 30.2% year-on-year. May was the second quarter's busiest month, with 6.9 million passengers.
India was Dubai's top destination country in terms of traffic with 6 million passengers in the first half, followed by Saudi Arabia with 3.1 million, the United Kingdom with 2.8 million and Pakistan with 2 million. The United States, Russia and Germany had 1.8 million, 1.3 million and 1.2 million passengers, respectively.
