Dubai: Passenger traffic at DXB triples to 14.2 million; forecast raised to 62.4 million in 2022

Dubai: Passenger traffic at DXB triples to 14.2 million; forecast raised to 62.4 million in 2022

It achieved the milestone despite significant capacity reduction due to 45-day closure of its northern runway

Published: Wed 17 Aug 2022, 10:22 AM

The operator of Dubai International said on Wednesday that 14.2 million passengers had travelled through the airport in the second quarter and raised its forecast for the year to 62.4 million passengers. Dubai International Airport (DXB) said it achieved the milestone despite a significant reduction in capacity resulting from the 45-day closure of its northern runway in May-June for a major refurbishment project.

The steady surge of growth throughout the second quarter has propelled the world's busiest hub's half-yearly traffic to 27.9 million passengers, just 1.2 million shy of the airport’s total annual traffic last year.

“Based on the strong first half and projection of a stronger second half with average monthly traffic expected to reach 5.6 million passengers, Dubai Airports has readjusted upwards its annual forecast for 2022 to 62.4 million passengers,” DXB said in a press statement.

Top destinations

India remained DXB’s top destination country by passenger numbers with traffic for the first half reaching four million passengers – driven primarily by top city destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia was second on the list with two million