Dubai International Airport (DXB) has retained its crown as the world's busiest international hub for passengers for a 10th consecutive year, as long-haul travel demand continues to boom, preliminary data by the Airports Council International (ACI) showed.
London Heathrow, Amsterdam's Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Singapore's Changi rounded off the top-five busiest hubs for international air traffic in 2023, the trade association for airports – representing more than 2,000 of them worldwide – reported on Monday.
“DXB is proud to uphold its status as the world's foremost international airport for an unparalleled 10 years,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, said.
“As we look ahead, our focus remains clear. We are determined to maintain DXB's dominant position for the next decade and beyond. Through sustained collaboration and innovation, we are poised to shape the future of global aviation.”
DXB, which does not have a domestic market, handled 86.9 million passengers in 2023, a 31.7 per cent increase on the previous year.
“Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fuelled by the international segment, propelled by several factors,” said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general at ACI World. “Among these were the anticipated benefits from China's reopening and a growing inclination towards travel, despite macroeconomic conditions.”
This year, Dubai expects to receive 88.8 million passengers, a prediction revised upwards in February from its November forecast of 88.2 million. That would put it within sight of its previous record of 89.1 million passengers in 2018.
DXB also expects its annual passenger traffic to reach 93.8 million in 2025 and “hopefully we'll get the magic 100 million number not long after”, Mr Griffiths told The National in February.
This growth forecast comes as DXB's home airlines start to take delivery of wide-body aircraft and as more foreign airlines launch flights to the major Gulf hub.
In terms of overall passenger numbers, which includes domestic and international traffic, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained top spot in the rankings in 2023 with 104.6 million passengers, ACI World reported.
It was followed by Dubai for the first time, ACI data showing that DXB overtook Dallas/Fort Worth in 2023. DXB's was fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2019 before the Covid pandemic, underscoring the emirate's focus on further expanding its aviation sector.
“While perennial leaders from the US continue to dominate the top 10 busiest airports for passengers, notably Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, retaining its number one position, there are notable shifts. Dubai International Airport jumped to second rank for the first time,” Mr de Oliveira said.
Other major shifts include Tokyo Haneda International Airport leaping to fifth place from 16th in 2022, making it the biggest mover in the top 10.
The strength of Istanbul and New Delhi airports kept them in the top 10 at seventh and 10th place respectively, marking significant progress for both.
Aviation in India is growing rapidly, with Air India and IndiGo placing mega orders for hundreds of aircraft from Boeing and Airbus and the government investing in the country’s more than 140 airports.
ACI World said in its report that the shifts in global airport rankings show “the strengthening of Asia-Pacific and Middle East hubs alongside perennial US leaders”.
Five of the airports ranked in the top 10 for total passenger traffic are in the US.
Global passenger traffic
Global total passenger traffic for 2023 was nearly 8.5 billion, an increase of 27.2 per cent from 2022 and up 93.8 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to ACI’s preliminary data.
The domestic air travel market grew by 20.2 per cent year-on-year in 2023, a recovery of 96.8 per cent from the numbers recorded in 2019. Meanwhile, international passenger traffic grew 36.5 per cent, or 90.4 per cent of its pre-pandemic level, aiding the aviation industry's recovery and expansion.
There is “good reason” to be optimistic about the industry’s prospects in 2024 as airlines accelerate investments in decarbonisation and passenger demand remains resilient in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said in a report earlier this month.
“It is critical that politicians resist the temptation of cash grabs with new taxes that could destabilise this positive trajectory and make travel more expensive,” he said at the time.
Air cargo volumes slide
Air freight volumes dropped an estimated 3.1 per cent year-on-year last year, reaching nearly 113 million metric tonnes, according to ACI data. This comes amid continuing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and supply chains, the report said.
Hong Kong International Airport topped the charts for air cargo volumes, followed by Memphis and Shanghai Pudong. Anchorage ranked fourth, followed by Incheon in fifth place.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
SHAITTAN
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFatigue%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3Enumbness%20and%20tingling%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELoss%20of%20balance%20and%20dizziness%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStiffness%20or%20spasms%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETremor%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPain%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBladder%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBowel%20trouble%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVision%20problems%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EProblems%20with%20memory%20and%20thinking%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
