Dubai Airports has entered the winter travel season with expanded airline services and new routes at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), responding to higher seasonal travel demand.
Direct travel demand
Direct travel now accounts for 55% of passenger demand at DXB during the winter season. Dubai Airports said the increase follows a familiar seasonal pattern, driven by cooler weather, a busy calendar of international events, and residents travelling abroad for holidays or family visits. The trend is also supported by people relocating to Dubai for short- and medium-term stays.
Europe and Central Asia
Airlines from Europe and Central Asia are increasing capacity this winter. FlyArystan joined DXB’s network on November 29 with twice-weekly flights from Aktau in Kazakhstan. Austrian Airlines resumed services from Vienna on December 2 with five weekly flights.
European carriers are also adding capacity. Virgin Atlantic has introduced the A350-1000 on its Dubai route, increasing seat capacity by 52%, while British Airways has brought back A380 services from London Heathrow.
Regional connectivity growth
Seasonal demand from South Asia and the Middle East is also supporting network growth. Varesh Airline launched twice-weekly flights from Sari in Iran on October 30. Fly Jinnah added twice-weekly services from Lahore on November 2, strengthening point-to-point connections during the winter period.
Saudi Arabia traffic
Saudi Arabia continues to be a key market for Dubai Airports. It is currently DXB’s second-largest country market, accounting for 7.8% of total passengers year-to-date as of October. Combined traffic from Saudi Arabia across DXB and DWC reached 6.3 million passengers, up 1.3% year-on-year. DWC recorded a 459% increase, reaching 173,000 passengers.
DWC expansion role
DWC handled 1.1 million passengers in the first 10 months of the year, marking a 36.6% increase. Growth was supported by demand from CIS, GCC and Western European markets. Dubai Airports said airlines are increasingly using DWC to complement operations at DXB, supported by available capacity. Cargo volumes and aircraft movements at DWC have also continued to rise.
Eurowings has expanded its presence with a daily DXB service from Stuttgart, three weekly flights from Düsseldorf to DWC, and increased frequencies to Berlin, Cologne and Hannover. The airline has also introduced its Premium Bizclass on the Berlin route.
Robert Whitehouse, Vice President of Research at Dubai Airports, said “Winter is always a pivotal period for Dubai’s aviation sector, and the breadth of this season’s network shows how strongly demand continues to evolve. The growth in direct traffic across both of our airports reflects a balanced mix of inbound visitors, outbound travel from residents and the many people choosing to make Dubai their home. It is a reminder that our connectivity is not only expanding but becoming more diverse and resilient.”
Dubai Airports said the winter schedule reflects airline confidence in Dubai’s travel demand, supported by a mix of tourism, business travel and long-term residency, reinforcing the city’s position as a major global aviation hub.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
