DXB tops international passenger numbers for 9th year running

Dubai International (DXB) has maintained its position as the world's busiest airport, in terms of international passengers, for the ninth year in a row.

According to the Airports Council International annual report, over 66 million international travellers passed through DXB's terminals in 2022, representing a 127 per cent increase compared to 2021.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the achievement didn’t surprise him considering their “stellar performance throughout 2022”.

While the increase in travel demand in 2022 was universal, he attributed DXB’s success story to the team’s “preparedness” to "not just accommodate the rapid increase in demand but also enhance airport experience".

DXB beat London Heathrow which, at 58.2 million, climbed from 7th to 2nd place between 2021 and 2022, while Amsterdam Schiphol clocked 52.4 million to remain in 3rd place.

Paris, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Madrid, Doha, Singapore and London Gatwick made up the rest of the Top 10.

While the figures for all the airports showed a significant rebound following the easing of travel restrictions after Covid-19, numbers still remain below pre-pandemic levels.

.@DXB ranks first globally for the 9th consecutive year as the world's busiest airport by international traffic in 2022, based on the annual report by @ACIWorld pic.twitter.com/wMy34nErGX

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 5, 2023