Dubai airport passenger traffic recovering after 70% drop in 2020, lifting jet fuel demand

Dubai — Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest for international traffic in 2019, is seeing a recovery in airline traffic in 2021 after passenger numbers plummet 70% year on year in 2020, denting UAE's jet fuel demand amid travel restrictions.

"There are now 142 destinations (61% recovery) served from DXB in 80 markets (85% recovery) on 56 airlines (75% recovery)," Dubai Airports, the operator of DXB said in a Feb. 15 statement.

A total of 25.9 million passengers passed through the airport in 2020, where activity started off in the first quarter with 17.8 million travelers but nearly ground to a halt in April, said Dubai Airports. Flights, which resumed on June 23 with the opening of UAE airspace, helped lift passenger numbers in the third and fourth quarters.

"Looking forward, we are confident of a steady, but optimistic outlook," Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airport said in a statement. "We are constantly monitoring future schedules and bookings, working with airlines on their plans to return to DXB and new routes to be introduced. This will allow us to ensure we have sufficient capacity and operational capability available to support as the recovery gains pace."

Jet fuel demand in the UAE, about 25% of the Middle East's total demand, is forecast to rise around 40% in 2021 to 110,000 b/d from 79,000 b/d in 2020, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics. Despite the UAE recovery in 2021, jet fuel demand levels will be lower than the 172,000 b/d reached in 2019.