UAE. Dubai International (DXB) has retained its status as the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year after clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021.
While that figure still pales alongside the pre-pandemic 2019 total of 86.4 million, CEO Paul Griffiths today painted an upbeat view of 2022 prospects, describing then as “very promising” due to key markets reopening and travel restrictions being lifted around the world.
Current forecasts indicate that passenger traffic through DXB could reach 55.1 million by the end of 2022. However, Griffiths said that if current trends continue, that figure could be exceeded by “a significant margin”.
DXB’s annual traffic exceeded forecasts for the year by more than half a million passengers, on the back of a strong final quarter.
Griffiths said that despite the uncertainties of the global pandemic, 2021 contained many milestones that represented bold steps taken by Dubai and its aviation sector to lead global air travel recovery.
These included the successful hosting of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the world’s first major airshow since the start of the pandemic; and the return of DXB to 100% operational capacity with the reopening of Terminal 1 Concourse D and Concourse A. Another landmark saw the world’s largest in-house airport laboratory for fast-track processing of COVID-19 PCR test samples opened for Dubai’s visitors.
DXB also welcomed a record number of new airlines connecting Dubai to more destinations and joined the rest of the emirate in welcoming millions of visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai.
Describing DXB’s performance in 2021 as impressive, Griffiths said, “Despite unprecedented turmoil affecting millions of people all over the world, we overcame many serious obstacles to the operation of the world’s largest international hub and provided smooth, comfortable and safe travel for millions of people travelling through DXB.
“This incredible performance by all of our staff and stakeholders was achieved in the face of abruptly changing travel regulations and concerns about new waves of infection. Despite these serious challenges to our ongoing success, we managed to exceed our own forecasts and continue to retain our crown as the world’s busiest international airport.
“With the eagerly anticipated reopening of key markets such as Australasia and the further easing of travel regulations around the world, the outlook for 2022 is very promising and we are in an excellent position to continue to lead the world’s air travel sector on the road to recovery.”
Key figures in 2021
DXB welcomed 29,110,609 passengers for the full year of 2021, a +12.7% year-on year increase. The numbers were propelled by a robust growth in the final quarter during which the airport served 11,794,046 passengers, +77% more than in the previous quarter. The October-December period was the busiest quarter since Q1 2020, and the first time since the start of the pandemic that DXB’s quarterly traffic surpassed the 10 million mark.
December was the busiest month of the year with 4.5 million passengers.
Top destinations
India retained its position as the top destination country for DXB by passenger volume, with passenger traffic for 2021 totalling 4.2 million, followed by Pakistan with 1.8 million, Saudi Arabia 1.5 million, and the UK 1.2 million. passengers. Other sizable destination countries included the US (1.1 million), Egypt (1 million) and Turkey (945,000).
DXB’s top destination cities during 2021 were Istanbul with 916,000 passengers, Cairo (905,000), London (814,000) and New Delhi (791,000 passengers).
DXB is currently connected to 198 destinations across 93 countries through 84 international carriers – significantly more than in 2019 before the pandemic.
Flights
The number of flight movements at DXB reached 77,671 during the fourth quarter bringing total 2021 movements to 233,375, a year-on-year growth of +28.1%. The average number of passengers per flight reached 154, down -18.9% year-on-year.
