In H1-2023, Dubai International Airport’s passenger numbers zoom past 2019’s pre-Covid tally of 41.3m

In H1-2023, Dubai International Airport’s passenger numbers zoom past 2019’s pre-Covid tally of 41.3m

Dubai: It’s official – Dubai has shot past the corresponding 2019 tally in passenger numbers passing through Dubai International Airport over the first six months of 2023.

During this period, 41.6 million visitors clocked in at DXB against the 41.3 million who did so during H1-2019. And compared to a year ago, the figures are even more striking. Last year same time, DXB had 27.9 million passengers.

The world’s busiest international airport has now raised its full-year 2023 forecast to 85 million passengers from the previous 83.6 million, just 1.6 per cent shy of DXB’s 2019 traffic of 83.6 million.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the airport remains optimistic about the demand levels and looks forward to a bumper winter season.

The April-June 2023 total provided all the boost DXB needed, with a 42.7 per cent year-on-year increase to 20.3 million fliers.

“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,” said Griffiths.

May was the busiest month during Q2-23 with 6.9 million guests. The airport is now well on its way to achieving total recovery from the 18.2