The CEO of Dubai Airports is bullish on the longer term and expects passenger traffic to surge to a record this 12 months and top 100 million by 2027.
Paul Griffiths said the airport operator has seen very strong post-pandemic recovery, adding town’s “never been in a stronger place than it’s now.”
Dubai Airports is the owner and manager of each Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
A shortage of aircraft capability, coupled with efforts to advertise Dubai as a refuge to draw people and “hangover” demand from the pandemic, may lead to a surge in passenger numbers, Griffiths added.
“Those three reasons, suggests we’re on for a record 12 months — 91 million forecast for the tip of 2024,” he told CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Tuesday.
“We expect by 2027, to be topping the 100 million passenger mark. So, very optimistic future ahead.”
Dubai International Airport posted its busiest quarter in history this 12 months, receiving over 23 million passengers — a 8.4% rise in the primary quarter in comparison with the identical period last 12 months, the corporate said in a press release.
This was partly on account of increased destination offers by flagship carrier Emirates and its sister low-cost airline Flydubai, it added.
Total passenger traffic in the primary quarter reached 23,052,060 guests, recording the very best traffic at 7.9 million passengers in January.
The stellar growth further strengthens the airport’s role as a key driver of Dubai’s economy and the aviation sector within the Middle East.
In April, Dubai’s government approved a 128 billion dirham ($35 billion) plan to construct a latest passenger terminal on the emirate’s Al Maktoum International Airport. It will make it five times greater than Dubai’s foremost international airport when it comes to size — and the most important on the planet upon completion.
Griffiths said the airport operator will proceed to take a position in the most recent technology to enhance “the flow rate through our airport facilities,” to permit passengers to get a quicker and more convenient experience.
“Secondly, it does enable us to get huge increases in capability out of our existing infrastructure without constructing an excessive amount of additional capability,” he said.
