Abu Dhabi Airports has announced remarkable year-to-date (YTD) growth in passenger traffic, welcoming 21.7 million travelers across its airports as of September 30, 2024. This marks an impressive 31.2 percent increase from the 16.5 million passengers reported during the same period in 2023.
This notable growth was particularly evident in the third quarter, with 7.7 million passengers using its airports, reflecting a substantial 27 percent rise compared to Q3 2023. Such a surge in passenger numbers emphasizes Abu Dhabi’s increasing status as a preferred hub for both leisure and business travelers, especially during the peak summer season.
Expansion of airline partnerships
The increase in passenger traffic can be attributed to an expanded route network facilitated by existing airline partners, along with the introduction of new airlines, including Turkmenistan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, U.S. Bangla, British Airways, Akasa Air, Flynas, Air Samarkand, and the resumption of Aeroflot’s seasonal operations. This expansion underscores the growth of Zayed International Airport (AUH), recognized as the fastest-growing airport in the Middle East regarding international seat capacity, according to the Official Airline Guide. Notably, on August 2, AUH experienced its busiest day ever, enabling the travel of 92,677 passengers.
Positive trends in aircraft movements
Aircraft movements also showed positive trends, reaching 185,485 YTD, which is a 10.2 percent increase from 168,377 movements during the same period in 2023. London remained the top destination, followed by Mumbai, Kochi, Cairo, and Doha, highlighting its appeal. As of September 30, point-to-point traffic rose by 27.3 percent compared to last year, with Abu Dhabi welcoming 10.3 million passengers, while transfer traffic surged by 36 percent to 10.9 million passengers, emphasizing the emirate’s strategic location and status as a global travel hub.
Commitment to infrastructure investment
Elena Sorlini, managing director and chief executive officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, expressed excitement about the strong YTD results, indicating that they clearly demonstrated the pace and robustness of growth across Abu Dhabi Airports. She noted that the addition of new airlines and the strong performance of existing partners reflect the confidence in Abu Dhabi as a leading aviation hub. This confidence is also reflected in cargo operations, and the organization remains committed to investing in infrastructure and services to enhance connectivity and trade, strengthening its position in the global aviation landscape.
Growth in cargo throughput
Cargo throughput has also seen solid growth, reaching 572,000 metric tons YTD, a 23 percent increase from 465,000 metric tons during the same period in 2023. This growth has been driven by heightened demand for both belly-hold capacity and freighter services. To support this expansion, Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) has signed two Musataha agreements to enhance its warehousing capabilities. These agreements include a 29,000-square-metre facility with MSM Logistics, representing a total investment of AED85 million. Additionally, the agreement with Radius Group will lead to the construction of a new AED320 million warehousing facility in Al Falah District, spanning 140,000 square metres and providing over 90,000 square metres of state-of-the-art warehousing space.
New routes by IndiGo
In August 2024, Abu Dhabi Airports, which manages the Emirate’s five air terminals, announced the launch of three new direct routes by Indian carrier IndiGo. These routes will connect Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Mangaluru (IXE), Tiruchirappalli (TRZ), and Coimbatore (CJB) in India. This expansion further enhances connectivity between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across India, bringing the total number of IndiGo-operated routes to 13.
First half of 2024 performance
Abu Dhabi Airports reported robust growth in passenger numbers, flight activity, and cargo movement during the first half of 2024. Between January 1 and June 30, 2024, Abu Dhabi Airports facilitated the travel of 13,983,885 passengers, marking a 33.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Zayed International Airport (AUH) alone handled 13,726,550 passengers, reflecting a 33.8 percent year-on-year rise. This surge in passenger traffic was driven by a 24.3 percent increase in flight movements, with 84,286 flights recorded during the first half of 2024, compared to 67,835 flights in the first half of 2023.
Advancements in air mobility
Also in August 2024, Abu Dhabi Airports extended its partnership with Groupe ADP to develop Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure in the emirate. The main focus of this partnership extension will be on the operation of ground infrastructure for AAM services in Abu Dhabi.
Vision for sustainable air transport
This innovative system integrates cutting-edge flight technologies with sustainable aircraft designs, aligning with Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision for a more efficient, convenient, connected, and sustainable future for air transport.
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