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DXB sets new target for 2024 as it flies past pre-pandemic levels

By Pramod Kumar
A passenger using a smartgate at DXB's terminal one. The airport handled 41.6 million passengers in the first half of 2023 Dubai Airports
Flight movements at DXB totalled 416,405 in 2023, up 21.3 percent year on year

Dubai International (DXB) expects to receive 88.8 million passengers this year, up 2.1 percent from 87 million received last year.

The airport’s previous all-time high was 89.1 million passengers in 2018.

DXB surpassed Dubai Airports’, the airport operator, yearly forecast and pre-pandemic traffic levels, in 2023.

Passenger number increased 32 percent year on year last year, registering 45 million visitors through the airport in the second half of the year.

December was the busiest month in the fourth quarter, during which the airport welcomed 22 million passengers, a 14 percent rise year on year.

The third quarter saw the highest traffic since 2019, with 23 million passengers. August topped the year after the airport received 7.9 million passengers.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that significant projects will be launched to refurbish facilities at DXB as it prepares for future growth. 

Flight movements at the hub totalled 416,405 in 2023, the highest ever recorded at DXB, up 21.3 percent year on year.  

DXB also processed 77.5 million bags in 2023, making it the highest volume of bags managed during a calendar year. 

India claimed the top spot among destination countries with traffic totalling 11.9 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (6.7 million) and the UK (5.9 million). 

Other countries include Pakistan (4.2 million), the US (3.6 million), Russia (2.5 million), and Germany (2.5 million).

London retained its position as the top destination with 3.7 million passengers, followed by Riyadh (2.6 million) and Mumbai (2.5 million). 

In 2023, DXB handled 1.82 million tonnes of cargo, down 4.5 percent year on year.

However, cargo volumes registered an annual growth of 20.4 percent in the fourth quarter to 506,018 tonnes.

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