Dubai International Airport (DXB) has started to recover after a challenging year, with a total of 25.9 million customers passing through the airport in 2020, a decrease of 70% compared to 2019.
The airport's official annual traffic figures show a recovery in the second half of 2020, after a difficult second quarter. In December, all expectations were exceeded, with the airport being transited by 2.19 million passengers.
The number of passengers has increased significantly in the last two quarters of 2020.
In the first quarter of 2020, DXB served 17.8 million customers, a decrease of over 20%. In the second quarter, due to the events that followed around the world, the figures fell even more.
For the first time in the 60-year history of the world's busiest international airport, in April, commercial flights stopped almost entirely, according to instructions from the UAE government.
In the following months, there were approximately 4.100 specially organized and repatriated flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum Dubai International Airport (DWC). Thus, 500.000 travelers were able to return to their countries of origin.
On 23 June 2020, the United Arab Emirates airspace was officially reopened by the authorities, and non-essential travel to Dubai was allowed from 7 July 2020.
These regulatory changes have had a positive impact on the figures recorded. The number of passengers increased significantly, by the end of the year, in Q3 and Q4 reaching a maximum of 1.3 million.
In 2020, only 25.9 million passengers passed through Dubai airport.
Viewed from the perspective of current markets and the destination served, the recovery is strong. Currently, DXB serves 142 destinations (61 recovery) in 80 international markets (85% recovery) with the help of 56 airlines (75% recovery).
India has retained its position as a top destination country for passengers departing from DXB, with traffic reaching 2020 million passengers by 4.3.
The next favorite destination was the United Kingdom with 1.89 million passengers, and Pakistan took third place with 1.86 million passengers. Among the other destinations was Saudi Arabia, with 1.45 million passengers in 2020.
Favorite cities were London, with 1.15 million passengers, followed by Mumbai, with 772.000 passengers, and New Delhi, with 722.000 passengers.
Emirates and FlyDubai have played a key role in the rapid recovery of Dubai International Airport (DXB).
While 2020 has been a year full of uncertainty, a key point for Dubai Airports were his partnerships. The partners, Emirates and flydubai, have played a key role in the recovery efforts, along with all the official entities that make up Dubai's aviation community.
In addition, the ability of the Dubai Health Authority to react quickly to the ever-changing environment, taking into account the needs of the Emirate, led to the establishment of COVID-19 PCR testing facilities in DXB for arriving passengers, making traffic more efficient. tourists, but also returning residents.
We remind you that in order to travel to Dubai you only need to present 2 negative COVID-19 PCR tests, one before the trip and one on arrival in Dubai.