The UAE civil aviation sector experienced remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2024, welcoming 36.5 million passengers, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
This figure represents a 14.7 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year, highlighting the sector’s strong growth trajectory. The breakdown includes 10,723,639 arrivals, 10,874,232 departures, and 14,944,466 transit passengers.
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The air cargo sector also witnessed 32 percent growth in Q1 2024 compared to the same period last year, handling a total of 1.1 million tons of cargo. This volume comprised 269,526 tons of imports, 119,490 tons of exports, and 714,446 tons of transit goods. Notably, national carriers accounted for approximately 68 percent of the total air cargo movement during this period.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director-general of GCAA, attributed this success to the collaborative efforts between the Authority and its partners at both federal and local government levels. He highlighted that these growth rates underscore the sector’s strength, competitiveness, and potential for continued advancement.
The strategic opening of new markets for national carriers, facilitated by 189 air transport agreements with countries worldwide, has been instrumental in fostering international partnerships and promoting the open skies policy, Al Suwaidi added.
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