Dubai Airport on track to set new passenger record by 2024 end

Photo : Instagram / @dubaiairports

Dubai: Dubai International Airport (DXB) is on track to set a new record for the number of passengers by the end of 2024. The airport is expected to welcome 91.9 million passengers, which is more than the previous record of 89.1 million set in 2018. Many passengers are expected to come during the last months of the year, especially with the holidays and events happening in Dubai.

In the first nine months of 2024, DXB has seen 68.6 million passengers. The airport expects to welcome 23.2 million more passengers in the last three months, making it a record-breaking year. During this time, many people travel to Dubai, including expats returning home for the holidays and tourists attending Dubai's famous events.
The end of the year is a busy time for Dubai International, with many people flying in for major events like the DP World Tour Championship, Emirates Dubai 7s, New Year’s Eve parties, and other celebrations. The cruise season also brings many travelers to Dubai, as the city’s ports are busy with cruise ships.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

In the third quarter of 2024, Dubai International saw 23.7 million passengers, a 6.3% increase compared to the same time in 2023. The airport also saw a rise in flights, with over 111,300 flights in the third quarter. This brings the total number of flights in 2024 to 327,700, a 6.4% increase from last year.
A big change this year is the increase in direct flights to Dubai. More passengers are now flying directly to Dubai instead of transferring to the airport. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said this shows how Dubai is becoming more popular, not just for tourists but also as a place to live, work, and do business.

For the last three months of 2024, about 60% of passengers at DXB are expected to be on direct flights. This is more than the 50% in the third quarter and the 55% expected for the entire year.
The airport is ready for the busy final months of the year, focusing on giving passengers the best experience. Dubai’s winter season, with its many events and attractions, will bring even more visitors.

The airport is expecting growth in passengers from Western Europe and the CIS (countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia). There will be 237,000 more seats available from Western Europe and 301,000 more from the CIS. New airlines like ITA Airways, Condor, Hainan, and Druk Air are also adding flights to Dubai.
Dubai World Central (DWC), also called Al Maktoum International Airport, is helping with this growth. Budget airlines like Transavia and Eurowings are adding more flights to European destinations from Dubai

In the third quarter of 2024, the countries sending the most passengers to Dubai were India (8.9 million passengers), Saudi Arabia (5.6 million passengers), the UK (4.6 million passengers), and Pakistan (3.4 million passengers).
Overall, Dubai International Airport is expected to break its passenger record in 2024. With the busy holiday season and many events coming up, DXB will continue to be one of the busiest airports in the world.