UAE airports welcome 36.5 million passengers in 3 months

A total of 36.5 million passengers travelled through the UAE's airports in the first quarter of 2024.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said this figure marks a 14.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The breakdown includes 10,874,232 departures, 10,723,639 arrivals and 14,944,466 transit passengers.

Meanwhile, the UAE's airports handled a total of 1.1 million tonnes of cargo during the three-month period between January and March 2024, marking a 32 per cent increase year-on-year.

National carriers accounted for nearly 68 per cent of the total air freight volume in Q1.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, attributed the growing figures to the collaborative efforts between the authority and its partners at both federal and local government levels.

He added that the strategic opening of new markets for national carriers, facilitated by 189 air transport agreements with countries worldwide, has been crucial in fostering partnerships and promoting the open skies policy.

#UAE airports welcome 36.5 million passengers in Q1 2024#WamInfographic https://t.co/CJlPjpKQE2 pic.twitter.com/gVuUgFKyVs

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) May 20, 2024