Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airports enhance winter schedules with new routes and increased operational capacity
DUBAI, 17 December, 2017 (WAM) – Dubai airports are entering the winter travel season supported by one of their strongest networks ever, while Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport continue to expand the scope of their operations by welcoming new airlines, increasing operational capacity, and improving schedules to keep pace with the expected traffic density.
Direct flights maintain their position as a pivotal element in the winter season at Dubai International Airport, as they now represent about 55% of the total passenger traffic.
This growth comes within a regular annual cycle supported by moderate weather, and a schedule full of international commercial, sporting and entertainment events, in addition to residents traveling to spend holidays or visit family, as well as the continuous flow of individuals who choose to reside in Dubai in the medium or long term.
The countries of Europe and Central Asia are contributing to this increase during the current winter season, as FlyArystan joined the airline network on November 29 with two flights per week from the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, while Austrian Airlines resumed its operations on December 2 with five flights per week from Vienna.
Capacity coming from European airlines is witnessing additional growth, as Virgin Atlantic introduced the A350-1000 aircraft on the Dubai route, increasing the number of seats by 52%, while British Airways restarted the A380 aircraft on its flights from London Heathrow Airport. Together, these steps reflect strong confidence from European markets as the holiday season approaches.
The seasonal increase in demand from South Asia and the wider Middle East region contributes to deepening the level of air connectivity through Dubai International Airport.
Farish Airline launched two flights per week from the city of Sari in Iran, starting from October 30, while FlyJnah added two flights per week from Lahore, starting from November 2, in a move that enhances direct travel from regional centers that usually witness a noticeable peak in travel to and from Dubai during the winter season.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is recording one of the most prominent growth rates this season, as it is the second largest market for Dubai International Airport, accounting for 7.8% of the total passenger traffic until October of this year.
The total travel traffic between Saudi Arabia and both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International Airports reached about 6.3 million passengers, achieving an annual growth of 1.3%, while Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport emerged with an exceptional increase of 459%, bringing the number of passengers through it to 173 thousand passengers.
The pivotal role of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport within the broader aviation system in Dubai is increasing, with a growing number of airlines taking advantage of its available capacity and using it as a complementary element to the existing services at Dubai International Airport.
During the first ten months of the year, the airport welcomed 1.1 million guests, achieving growth of 36.6%, driven by growing demand from the CIS, GCC and Western European markets.
Air cargo and aircraft movement indicators also continued to record rising growth, which enhances the airport’s strategic momentum and its growing role.
Eurowings is playing a prominent role in supporting this growth, by launching a new daily service to Dubai International Airport from Stuttgart, in addition to operating three flights weekly to Dubai World Central Airport from Dusseldorf, and increasing the number of flights to Berlin, Cologne and Hannover.
Robert Whitehouse, Vice President of Research Development at Dubai Airports, said that the winter season is always a turning point for the aviation sector in Dubai, and the expansion of the network this season reflects the continuing development in demand levels. The growth in direct flight traffic through our two airports embodies a balanced mix of incoming visitors and residents traveling abroad, in addition to the increasing numbers of those who choose Dubai as their home. This confirms the expansion of the air connectivity network, and its increased diversity and ability to adapt.
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