Dubai International Airport (DXB) pushed past 2019 passenger traffic levels in the first half (H1) of 2023, with India as the top destination country for the airport during the six-month period.
DXB handled 41.6 million passengers in H1 2023, just above 2019 levels and up 49.1% over the 27.9 million passengers handled at the airport in the first six months of 2022. DXB, the home hub of Emirates Airline, handled the fifth most passengers in the world in 2022, including more international passengers than any other airport, according to Airports Council International World.
DXB CEO Paul Griffiths says in a statement the airport is increasing its forecast for the full year, projecting it will handle 85 million passengers for the 12-month period, which would be 1.6% below full-year 2019 levels. The airport had previously forecast it would handle 83.6 million passengers in 2023.
India was DXB’s top destination country in H1 2023, with 6 million passengers flying between Dubai and Indian destinations. Saudi Arabia (3.1 million passengers) and the UK (2.8 million passengers) followed. The top city for DXB traffic in H1 was London (1.7 million passengers), where Emirates serves Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports. Mumbai and Riyadh (around 1.2 million passengers each) followed.
DXB notes it is connected to 257 destinations across 104 countries via 91 airlines.
The airport says baggage volume in H1 2023 (37.2 million checked bags handled) was up 7% over the first six months of 2019. DXB notes 92% of bags were delivered to passengers within 45 min.
DXB says it is “optimistic about the levels of demand” in the second half of the year and foresees a strong 2023/24 northern hemisphere winter season.
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