11 Aug 2021 | 06:21 UTC

Dubai expects "robust" aviation growth in H2 after 41% plunge in passenger numbers in H1

Highlights

Dubai International handled 10.6 million passengers in H1

UK decision to move UAE to amber list to lift passenger numbers

Dubai International was world's busiest for international travel pre-pandemic

Dubai International, the busiest aviation hub for international travel in 2019 that saw a 41% year on year plunge in first half 2021 passenger numbers, expects the second half to have "robust growth", a boon for jet fuel demand.

Dubai International, the busiest aviation hub for international travel in 2019 that saw a 41% year on year plunge in first half 2021 passenger numbers, expects the second half to have "robust growth", a boon for jet fuel demand.

Dubai International's passenger numbers in H1 reached 10.6 million, operator Dubai Airports said in a statement Aug. 11.

The UK's recent decision to move the UAE to the 'amber list' from the 'red list' of travel and the UAE's conditional lifting of travel restrictions for passengers arriving from four countries in the Indian subcontinent as well as Nigeria and Uganda will significantly boost the airport's international traffic, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in the statement.

Dubai International is currently serving 68% of the destinations in 94% of the countries on 70% of the airlines compared to before the pandemic.

S&P Global Platts Analytics projects a 36% uptick in UAE's jet fuel demand to 120,000 b/d in 2021 from a year earlier, nearly in line with a 39% forecast increase in Middle East demand to 320,000 b/d this year.

Patchy recovery

Dubai International Airport is home to Emirates Airline, the world's biggest carrier for long-haul flights in 2019.

Emirates said in June it expects the recovery in the aviation industry to be patchy after its passenger numbers during the 2020-21 financial year (April-March) plummeted 88% as the coronavirus pandemic led to travel restrictions and lockdowns.

Emirates posted its first loss in over 30 years for the 2020-21 financial year as it carried only 6.6 million passengers and saw its seat capacity decline 83%.

Etihad Airways, the second-biggest long haul carrier in the UAE, reported a 71% year on year drop in first half passenger numbers to one million due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.