Dubai Airports Passenger Forecast Shoots to 91 Million for 2024
Dubai International Airport (DXB) anticipates handling a record 91 million passengers in 2024, driven by surging travel demand and network expansions by Emirates and flydubai.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has revised its 2024 passenger traffic forecast to a record 91 million, reflecting a robust rebound in travel demand. The airport saw over 23 million passengers in the first quarter of this year, marking its busiest quarter ever and an 8.4% annual increase. January alone recorded 7.9 million passengers.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, attributes this growth to the expansion of routes by home carriers Emirates and flydubai. This surge in passenger numbers has prompted DXB to surpass its previous annual traffic record of 89.1 million set in 2018.
Dubai’s aviation sector has swiftly recovered from the pandemic, with DXB handling nearly 87 million passengers last year—a 31.7% year-on-year growth. The continued increase in travel demand is evident despite global economic challenges.
Emirates airline reported a 63% annual profit increase, driven by a significant rise in passenger numbers and seat capacity. Simultaneously, flydubai has added new destinations and recorded a 13% increase in passengers between January and April 2024.
To accommodate this growth, Dubai is constructing a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central), which will eventually become the world’s largest airport. This transition is expected to phase out operations at DXB gradually.