Air traffic in the UAE surged by an impressive 14 percent in February 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, revealed Ahmed Al Jallaf, assistant director-general of the air navigation services sector at the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). During his participation in the 21st meeting of the Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group in Abu Dhabi, Al Jallaf highlighted that a day in February 2024 witnessed the highest level of air traffic in the history of civil aviation in the UAE, with approximately 2,900 air movements recorded in a single day.
Continued expansion
The growth in air traffic the UAE observed since the beginning of 2024 complements the significant growth it recorded in 2023. The UAE saw a nearly 19 percent increase in the figure for 2023 compared to 2022. Previous data from the GCAA indicated that the total number of passengers traveling through the country’s airports in 2023 exceeded 134 million. This marks a growth rate of 33 percent compared to 2022 and over 5 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This remarkable growth in air traffic and passenger numbers underscores the strength and competitiveness of the UAE’s aviation sector and its success in gaining significant international trust.
Strategic investments
In addition to the surging air traffic, Al Jallaf emphasized the strategic investments and initiatives driving the future growth and sustainability of the UAE’s aviation sector. He highlighted the recent third conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) hosted by the UAE in November, which resulted in an international agreement on a global framework for low-carbon aviation fuel and sustainable fuel. This initiative, coinciding with COP28, underscores the UAE’s commitment to supporting sustainability efforts and fostering further growth in civil aviation.
Read: GCC infrastructure firms to hold up against 2024 refinancing needs: Report
Future growth
Looking ahead, Al Jallaf expressed expectations for continued growth in UAE’s air traffic in both halves of 2024. He pointed to ongoing expansions at the country’s airports, including the opening of Passenger Terminal A at Zayed International Airport and the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport. Additionally, major expansions of the fleets of national airlines are contributing to the anticipated growth in air traffic.
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