Passenger traffic at UAE airports surged by 14.2% in the first half of 2024, with over 71.75 million passengers traveling through the country's airports compared to 62.79 million during the same period last year.
This growth reflects a robust recovery and expansion in the aviation sector.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), attributed this impressive increase to the UAE leadership's strategic vision and ongoing investments in infrastructure and regulatory advancements. Al Suwaidi emphasized the role of digital transformation and the strong performance of UAE national carriers in driving these positive results.
"The country's aviation sector is set for continued growth,"
Al Suwaidi said.
"We are committed to enhancing safety and security, adopting innovative technologies to improve passenger experiences, and establishing the UAE as a major hub in the global aviation network."
In detail, during the first half of 2024, UAE airports saw 20,274,694 arrivals, 21,090,750 departures, and 30,391,978 transit passengers. Air cargo traffic also experienced growth, reaching 2,162,786 tonnes, with national carriers responsible for 68% of this total. Cargo movements included 528,430 tonnes of imports, 245,217 tonnes of exports, and 1,389,136 tonnes of transit cargo.
Overall air traffic movements increased by 11.8% to 499,789, with February marking the highest growth at 15% compared to the same month last year. The GCAA is working closely with federal and local partners to further expand and strengthen the UAE’s position in global air transport.
News Source: Emirates News Agency