Dubai International Airport has maintained operations through recent regional airspace disruptions that affected flight schedules and capacity across key aviation routes in the Middle East, before moving into a recovery phase following the full restoration of UAE airspace.
Operations during disruption
Dubai Airports said the airport remained operational from February 28 onwards, despite constraints that intensified in March. During this period, DXB supported the movement of 6 million passengers, more than 32,000 aircraft movements, and 213,000 tonnes of cargo by April 30.
Operations were adjusted in line with available airspace, with coordinated planning across airlines, service partners and air traffic authorities to maintain continuity of service.
Recovery phase begins
Following the lifting of precautionary airspace restrictions, Dubai Airports said it has begun increasing flight movements and supporting airlines in gradually restoring schedules.
The organisation said current capacity is being shaped by regional air routing availability outside the UAE, with ongoing coordination to manage traffic flows across neighbouring airspace.
This recovery effort has been supported by collaboration within the oneDXB ecosystem, including airlines, ground service providers and aviation authorities.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the situation was unprecedented for a major global hub.
“The extraordinary events of the past few weeks are unprecedented for any major airport hub such as DXB. International transfer traffic through the Middle East region accounts for a major share of the global air travel market, with 22.4 million annual passenger journeys flowing through DXB, representing one third of the transfer traffic across the region’s hubs. Maintaining the smooth operation of DXB is therefore critical to keep global journeys moving. Our focus has been on keeping operations safe and consistent for our customers through close coordination and rapid decision-making across the entire airport community and beyond, while ensuring the system remains ready to respond swiftly as conditions improve,” he said.
He added that the experience has strengthened operational readiness.
“Our collective response to these challenges has sharpened our ability to adapt at pace. That readiness will enable us to accommodate returning demand as capacity is restored, reinforcing DXB’s role as a leading global hub, even as some regional routing constraints remain,” Griffiths said.
Transfer traffic role
Dubai Airports noted that DXB plays a central role in global transfer traffic through the region. Of nearly 100 million passengers whose journeys can route through the Middle East, around 70 per cent pass through the region, with DXB handling about 32 per cent of that share.
The airport said this segment is expected to recover quickly as capacity normalises, supported by sustained international demand.
Q1 performance
In the first quarter of 2026, DXB welcomed 18.6 million passengers, a decline of 20.6 per cent year on year, reflecting the impact of the disruption. March traffic fell 65.7 per cent to 2.5 million passengers.
India remained the largest country market with 2.5 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. London was the busiest city destination, followed by Mumbai and Jeddah.
Cargo volumes stood at 399,600 tonnes in Q1, down 22.7 per cent, while aircraft movements declined 20.8 per cent to 88,000. The airport processed 17.6 million bags during the quarter, with a reported mishandled baggage rate of 3.5 per 1,000 passengers, compared to 1.95 per 1,000 in the same period last year.
Dubai Airports said it expects demand to remain strong as regional airspace capacity improves, with plans underway to increase flight movements in coordination with airline and airspace partners.
The operator also noted that long-term expansion plans at Al Maktoum International Airport continue to progress as part of Dubai’s wider aviation growth strategy.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
