UAE airports handle over 71 million passengers in 6 months

File picture [for illustration]

Passenger traffic at UAE airports saw a significant increase of 14.2 per cent in the first half of 2024.

More than 71.75 million travellers passed through the country's airports during this period, a notable rise from 62.79 million passengers in the same timeframe last year.

The number of arrivals was 20,274,694 passengers, departures totalled 21,090,750, and transit passengers numbered 30,391,978.

Total aircraft movements reached 499,789 in H1 2024, with an overall growth rate of 11.8 per cent.

Air cargo volumes exceeded 2.16 million tonnes, with national carriers accounting for 68 per cent of the overall cargo traffic.

"We are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safety and security, adopting new technologies to enhance the passenger experience, and establishing the country as a key hub for air transport in the region and a major player in the global aviation network," said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

He added that the GCAA is working with federal and local partners, as well as national carriers, to strengthen air transport partnerships with existing markets and to identify opportunities for entering new markets.

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