Unprecedented Growth and Strategic Achievements at DXB
Dubai’s Al-Maktoum International Airport (DXB) has reached a new milestone with a record-breaking 44.9 million travelers passing through its facilities during the first half of 2024. This represents an 8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, solidifying DXB’s role as a crucial global travel hub. The airport’s strategic location coupled with excellent connectivity to major international markets has significantly contributed to Dubai’s economic expansion.
The total number of flight movements during this period was 216,000, marking a 7.2% rise from the first half of 2023. January 2024 saw the highest traffic, with 7.9 million passengers. Furthermore, the airport processed a record 39.7 million bags, up 6.7% year-on-year, achieving the highest-ever volume for the first half of any year. Remarkably, 92% of all arriving baggage for passengers terminating their journey at DXB was delivered within 45 minutes of the aircraft’s arrival.
The average passenger count per flight was 213, maintaining a load factor of 77%, consistent with the previous year’s figures. Direct traffic comprised 56% of the total, showing a slight increase, while transfer traffic accounted for 44% of the movement.
Strategic Insights and Future Outlook
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, emphasized the airport’s strategic importance as a global aviation hub. He highlighted Dubai’s role in attracting global talent, businesses, and tourists, and how DXB drives growth while enhancing the airport experience for every visitor. He also noted the strong demand from key markets such as India and the resurgence of markets like China as instrumental in DXB’s success.
Looking ahead, the outlook for DXB remains optimistic with an expected record-breaking 91.8 million guests for the full year of 2024. The significant contributions from established and growing markets such as South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia continue to play a crucial role in the airport’s ongoing success.
In the first half of 2024, India was DXB’s top destination country with 6.1 million passengers. Traffic from China showed substantial growth, exceeding 1 million passengers, which is an 80% increase year-on-year and 90% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Following India, the top destination countries were Saudi Arabia with 3.7 million passengers, the UK with 2.9 million, and Pakistan with 2.3 million. The United States, Russia, and Germany also showed significant traffic, with 1.7 million, 1.3 million, and 1.3 million passengers respectively.
The top three cities in terms of passenger volume were London (1.8 million), Riyadh (1.6 million), and Mumbai (1.2 million). With connections to 269 destinations across 106 countries and serviced by 101 international airlines, DXB continues to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global business and logistics hub.