UAE's annual airline passenger...

UAE airlines have significantly expanded global footprint

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is forecasting that the country's annual passenger traffic will hit 140 million.

UAE national airlines now serve approximately 606 destinations worldwide, including passenger, joint and cargo routes, official data has revealed. This is a 3.4% increase from the 586 destinations served by the carriers at the end of 2023.

The UAE’s airlines are significantly expanding their global footprint, fuelled by the country’s robust tourism and business sectors. Emirates now serves more than 144 destinations, Etihad Airways covers 79, Flydubai operates to 125, Air Arabia reaches 218, and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi connects to 40.

Etihad Airways has been notably active in broadening its route network, targeting 125 destinations by 2030.

The airline plans to capitalise on its strategic location between Asia and Europe, aiming to boost its annual passenger volume to 33 million.

This year, Etihad has introduced several new destinations and expanded its flight frequencies, including a significant increase in services to Thailand and re-allocating flights to Nairobi.

Emirates, with its network spanning six continents, continues to enhance seat capacity to accommodate growing demand. The airline is also in the process of modernising 80 Boeing 777 aircraft as part of a US$3bn investment to elevate passenger experience.

Flydubai operates to 125 destinations in 58 countries. The airline plans to expand its fleet with seven new aircraft by year-end and hire 130 new pilots to support its network growth, including new routes to Basel, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.

Sharjah's Air Arabia Group served 8.9 million passengers, marking a 16% increase year-on-year, with seat occupancy at 81%

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is expanding its operations with a modern fleet to meet increasing demand and support its ambitious growth plans.

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