The UAE’s national airlines are rapidly expanding their global networks, driven by the country’s strong reputation in tourism and business and the resurgence in global travel demand.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) forecasts passenger traffic in the UAE to reach 140 million, underscoring the ongoing growth and competitiveness of the nation’s airlines.
As of mid-2024, UAE carriers now serve approximately 606 destinations worldwide, marking a 3.4% increase from the 586 destinations at the end of 2023. Emirates leads the pack with over 144 destinations, followed by Air Arabia with 218, flydubai with 125, Etihad Airways with 79, and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi with 40 destinations.
Etihad Airways is on an aggressive expansion path, aiming to reach 125 destinations by 2030. The airline carried 10.4 million passengers in the first seven months of 2024 and expanded its fleet to 93 aircraft by July. With plans to introduce new routes and increase flight frequencies, Etihad is positioning itself as a key connector between Asia and Europe, targeting an annual passenger count of 33 million.
Emirates continues to enhance its network across six continents, focusing on upgrading its fleet and increasing seat capacity to meet rising travel demand. The airline plans to deploy its upgraded Boeing 777 aircraft on routes to Zurich, Riyadh, Geneva, and Brussels by October.
flydubai, with its growing fleet of Boeing 737s, recently launched direct flights to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg and is set to expand to Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius by year-end. Meanwhile, Air Arabia and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi continue to strengthen their networks, with Air Arabia reporting a 16% increase in passengers and Wizz Air expanding its modern fleet to support new routes.
The UAE’s national carriers are set to play a pivotal role in shaping global air travel, leveraging their strategic locations and state-of-the-art fleets.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
