Fuelled by robust growth in the initial three quarters of the year and the expectation of a significant increase in guest numbers in the last quarter, Dubai Airports predicts that the annual passenger traffic at Dubai International (DXB) will reach 86.8 million, surpassing the levels seen in 2019 in the pre-pandemic era.
Entering the latter part of 2023, DXB sustains its growth momentum, maintaining an average monthly traffic of 7.6 million, aligning with pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter.
The world's largest hub achieved a milestone in Q3 with 22.9 million passengers, the highest quarterly traffic since 2019. This brings the total year-to-date traffic for the first nine months of the year to 64.5 million passengers, reflecting a notable 39.3% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a 1% rise above the figures from 2019.
Dubai Airports is forecasting annual passenger traffic in 2023 to hit 86.8 million, driven by strong growth throughout the year and an anticipated 'exceptional surge' in numbers in the fourth quarter. In August, the initial forecast for 2023 was 85 million passengers.
“DXB is all set to surpass the pre-pandemic milestone well ahead of our initial projections by almost a year. Our outlook for the remainder of this year and the next remains optimistic,” said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.
In line with the goal to transform the guest experience at DXB, a strategic project is underway to expand infrastructure capacity and improve operational efficiency. Currently, the airport can accommodate 100 million passengers annually, the plan involves deploying innovative technology, expanding and refurbishing existing infrastructure, and optimising space and resources.
This initiative is expected to boost the airport's capacity from the current 100 million to 120 million passengers.