Latest news with #AbuDhabiAirports
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Abu Dhabi Airports sees 13% rise in passenger numbers despite airspace disruptions
JEDDAH: Abu Dhabi Airports handled more than 15.8 million passengers in the first half of 2025, up 13.1 percent from the previous six months, despite regional airspace disruptions. Zayed International Airport, the UAE's second-largest air base and a key international hub connected to over 120 passenger destinations, played a central role in the surge. It recorded 15.5 million passengers by the end of June — a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase, according to the UAE's official news agency WAM. The government-owned operator showed resilience, maintaining steady growth in both passenger traffic and flight movements despite regional disruptions caused by a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The unrest led to airspace closures across the Gulf, including the UAE, resulting in flight suspensions and rerouting. Elena Sorlini, managing director and CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team.' She added: 'It reflects our operational agility and commitment to delivering an exceptional aviation experience and attracting international investors.' This increase in passenger traffic was accompanied by 133,533 total flights across the five airports in the first half of 2025, marking a 9.2 percent rise compared to the same period last year, according to the WAM report. Zayed International Airport recorded 93,858 aircraft movements during the first half, up 11.4 percent from 84,286 flights in the first six months of 2024. Etihad Airways temporarily halted some regional flights amid the tensions. Meanwhile, Wizz Air recently announced plans to exit Abu Dhabi from Sept. 1, citing geopolitical instability and airspace restrictions. Abu Dhabi Airports pushed ahead with network expansion, introducing 16 new destinations and onboarding several new airline partners in the first half of the year. These include China Eastern Airlines' four-times-weekly Shanghai service, which will become daily in September; Air Seychelles' six weekly flights; and Fly Cham's route to Damascus. Indian carrier IndiGo also added new services to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Visakhapatnam, making Zayed International its most connected hub in the UAE. Cargo volumes also rose, reaching 344,795 tonnes in the first half of the year, supported by infrastructure upgrades and growing trade flows through the emirate.
UAE Moments
3 days ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi Airport See Traffic Soar Past 15.8 Million in 2025
Abu Dhabi Airports has reported impressive growth in the first half of 2025, welcoming more than 15.8 million passengers between January and June, a 13.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! The newly renamed Zayed International Airport (AUH) was the driving force behind this surge, with 15.5 million passengers passing through its gates by the end of June, marking a 13.2% rise year-on-year. More Flights, More Destinations Supporting this record growth were 133,533 flights across Abu Dhabi's five airports during the first six months of the year, up 9.2% from H1 2024. At AUH alone, aircraft movements jumped to 93,858 flights, an 11.4% increase from the same period last year. Expanding Abu Dhabi's global reach has been central to this success, with 16 new destinations added to the network and several new airline partners joining. Highlights include: China Eastern Airlines: Four weekly flights to Shanghai (daily starting September) Air Seychelles: Six weekly flights Fly Cham: New service to Damascus IndiGo: New routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, solidifying AUH as IndiGo's most connected hub in the UAE. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team. It reflects our operational agility, commitment to delivering an exceptional aviation experience, and attracting international investors.' Cargo Operations Hit New Heights Abu Dhabi Airports also excelled in cargo operations, handling 344,795 tonnes of cargo year-to-date, a strong indicator of the emirate's growing role in global trade. This was supported by strategic initiatives, including a joint venture with JD Property (part of to build a 70,000 sqm advanced-tech logistics hub, catering to the booming e-commerce and specialised cargo demand across the GCC and MENA. Strategic Milestones and Awards The first half of 2025 also saw key achievements across the airport network: Completion of rehabilitation works at Sir Bani Yas Airport, enhancing eco-tourism access in Al Dhafra. AUH earned a prestigious 3 Pearl Estidama rating for sustainable construction. AUH was named 'Best Airport at Arrivals Globally' for the third year running at the ACI ASQ Awards. At Al Bateen Executive Airport, progress continued on a dedicated service facility in partnership with Bombardier, boosting Abu Dhabi's MRO capabilities. A new MoU with TAQA Distribution aims to bring next-generation utility technologies to the airport network, furthering innovation and sustainability. Looking Ahead With steady growth in passengers, cargo, and destinations, and ambitious projects already underway, Abu Dhabi Airports is on track for a stellar 2025, cementing its position as a global aviation and logistics hub.
Gulf Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Abu Dhabi Airports reports 17th consecutive quarter of double-digit pax growth in H1 2025
Image: Abu Dhabi Aiports From January to June, the operator of the emirate's five commercial airports handled over 15.8 million passengers, marking a 13.1 per cent increase over the same period Zayed International Airport (AUH) was the primary driver of growth, welcoming 15.5 million passengers, up 13.2 per cent year-on-year. Flight movements also saw an uptick, with a total of 133,533 flights across the network during H1 2025, a 9.2 per cent rise over the previous year. AUH alone recorded 93,858 aircraft movements, an 11.4 per cent increase from the 84,286 flights registered in H1 2024. 'The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges, yet our exceptional mid-year results demonstrate the resilience of our network and the collaborative partnerships that underpin our growth,' said Elena Sorlini, MD and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports. 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team,' she added. Abu Dhabi Airports expands global connectivity The group also expanded its global connectivity by adding 16 new destinations and welcoming new airline partners. Key developments include China Eastern Airlines' Shanghai route (set to go daily in September), Air Seychelles' six weekly flights, Fly Cham's service to Damascus, and IndiGo's new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, cementing AUH as the Indian carrier's most connected hub in the UAE. Cargo operations registered strong growth as well. 344,795 tonnes of cargo were handled in H1 2025, supported by strategic infrastructure upgrades. A key development was a joint venture agreement with JD Property, the infrastructure arm of China's to build a 70,00sqm advanced logistics facility targeting rising east-west e-commerce demand in the GCC and MENA regions. Other strategic milestones Completion of rehabilitation works at Sir Bani Yas Airport, supporting Al Dhafra's eco-tourism goals. AUH receiving the 3 Pearl Estidama rating for construction and being named 'Best Airport at Arrivals Globally' at the ACI ASQ Awards for the third year running. Advancement of MRO capabilities at Al Bateen Executive Airport through a collaboration with Bombardier. Signing of an MoU with TAQA Distribution to explore next-generation utility technologies across airport operations. Abu Dhabi Airports stated it will continue advancing its long-term growth strategy, focusing on expanding international partnerships, upgrading infrastructure, and driving sustainable innovation.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi first-half passenger traffic rises 13% despite regional challenges
Abu Dhabi Airports reported on Monday a 13.1% increase in passenger traffic to 15.8 million in the first half of the year, defying periodic disruptions to air transport in the Middle East caused by conflicts. Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH), the travel hub of the United Arab Emirates' capital city, accounted for the vast majority of the traffic, handling 15.5 million passengers, up 13.2% from the first half of last year. The number of flights at AUH increased by 11.4% to nearly 94,000 in the six months to June 30. Abu Dhabi Airports said some new airlines had joined its network of airports, which had increased the number of destinations, particularly to China and India, and noted demand for both tourism and business travel, without giving details. The increases came despite disruptions including a 12-day war between Israel and Iran last month that triggered airspace closures in some Gulf countries, and forced airlines to suspend and reroute some flights. Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi's main carrier, suspended Israel-bound flights for several weeks in June and faced temporary cancellations on routes to Kuwait, Doha, and Saudi Arabia's Dammam. Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said last week that it would exit its Abu Dhabi operation starting September 1, citing factors including geopolitical instability. "The first six months of this year have posed some operational challenges," Abu Dhabi Airports CEO Elena Sorlini said in a statement, adding that the company's results demonstrated the resilience of its network. Abu Dhabi Airports also operates Al Ain International Airport, Al Bateen Executive Airport, Delma Island Airport and Sir Bani Yas Island Airport, besides AUH.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes 15.8 million passenger in H1
Abu Dhabi Airports announced that it welcomed over 15.8 million passengers between 1st January and 30th June 2025, marking a notable 13.1 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Zayed International Airport (AUH) played a pivotal role in the increase, with 15.5 million passengers walking through its gates until the end of June – up 13.2 per cent year-on-year. This rise in passenger traffic was also supported by 133,533 total flights across the five airports in the first half of 2025, representing a 9.2 per cent rise from the same period last year. AUH registered 93,858 aircraft movements, 11.4 per cent over H1 2024 when it recorded 84,286 flights. Expanding its global footprint remains central to Abu Dhabi Airports' growth strategy. In the first half of the year, the network added 16 new destinations and welcomed new airline partners. Notable additions include China Eastern Airlines' four-times-weekly Shanghai service (with daily service commencing in September), Air Seychelles' six weekly flights, and Fly Cham's service to Damascus. IndiGo also strengthened its presence at AUH with new routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, further cementing AUH as the airline's most connected hub in the UAE. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said, 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team. It reflects our operational agility and commitment to delivering an exceptional aviation experience and attracting international investors.' Abu Dhabi Airports also demonstrated impressive growth in cargo operations, highlighting the emirate's growing significance in global trade. In H1 2025, it handled a total of 344,795 tonnes of cargo year-to-date, bolstered by strategic partnerships and ongoing infrastructure enhancements. These include a major joint venture agreement signed with JD Property, the infrastructure arm of China's e-commerce giant The agreement will see the development of a state-of-the-art 70,000sqm advanced-tech facility that aims to meet the growing east-west demand for e-commerce and specialised cargo logistics throughout the GCC and broader MENA region. The first half of 2025 was also marked by several strategic milestones across Abu Dhabi Airports' network. The completion of rehabilitation works at Sir Bani Yas Airport reflects the commitment to strengthening the UAE's aviation infrastructure and supporting Al Dhafra's eco-tourism ambitions. Additionally, AUH was awarded the prestigious 3 Pearl Estidama rating for construction, and was also recognised as the 'Best Airport at Arrivals Globally' for the third consecutive year at the ACI ASQ Awards. At Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi Airports' collaboration with Bombardier progressed with the establishment of a dedicated service facility, advancing Abu Dhabi's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to position the emirate as a centre of excellence for aviation services. Additionally, a new MoU signed with TAQA Distribution will explore the integration of next-generation utility technologies across the airport portfolio, reinforcing Abu Dhabi Airports' long-term vision for innovation and sustainable development. WAM
