Dubai Airport eyes record rebound, set to surpass 2019 passenger nos

Dubai International Airport is set to surpass its 2019 passenger numbers this year, marking a robust recovery in travel post the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. As of the third quarter, the airport, recognised as the world's busiest for international travel and headquarters of Emirates, has seen 64.5 million passengers pass through its terminals. Projections suggest it is on course to reach 86.8 million passengers by year-end, exceeding the 2019 figure of 86.3 million. Despite challenges like conflicts affecting certain routes and lower traffic from China, Dubai's diverse network of 250 destinations and 95 airlines across 105 countries has contributed to its strong rebound. Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, expressed optimism about potentially surpassing the forecast, emphasising the resilience of their extensive network. The announcement was made during the Dubai Air Show at Al Maktoum International Airport, where confidence in the aviation outlook for Dubai was highlighted, supported by significant aircraft purchases by Emirates and FlyDubai.