UAE flights: Airlines’ seating capacity grows by over 67% in 2022

UAE flights: Airlines’ seating capacity grows by over 67% in 2022

The scheduled seating capacity of airlines on the UAE routes grew year-on-year in 2022, albeit at a slower pace, as the recovery in aviation continues at a steady pace.

According to the latest data released by global travel data provider OAG, scheduled seating capacity reached 63.89 million this year as against 38.16 million last year, up by 67.4 per cent. When compared with 2020, the seating capacity has almost doubled from 32.28 million to 63.78 million, an increase of 97.6 per cent.

When compared to the pre-pandemic year, the seating capacity is still 15.9 per cent below the 2019 level when airlines’ seating capacity on the UAE route reached 75.78 million.

After the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, airlines were grounded and airports were shut down in order to combat the disease. The UAE had also taken steps in 2020 in line with global healthy safety guidelines and restricted airlines’ movements.

But Dubai, which was among the first to reopen after Covid-19, has recovered very well post-pandemic. Data released in November showed DXB traffic returning to pre-pandemic level in the third quarter. Hence, Dubai Airports revised upward passenger traffic forecast for 2022 following strong passenger traffic in the previous quarters.

The airport operator