UAE airport seat capacity jumps 23% to 7.2 million in October as winter travel season begins
Scheduled departing seat capacity at UAE airports rose to 7.2 million in October, up 23 per cent from June, led by Dubai International's 4.6 million seats as airlines rebuild schedules for the winter season.
Airports across the United Arab Emirates are preparing for a busier winter travel season, with scheduled departing seat capacity rising to 7.2 million in October - an increase of 23 per cent compared with June, according to schedule data reported by Gulf News and other outlets.
Dubai International Airport accounts for the largest share with 4.6 million departing seats, followed by Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi with 1.7 million and Sharjah International Airport with 840,000. Among the country's carriers, Emirates offered 3.1 million seats during October, while flydubai recorded the strongest growth of any major UAE airline, increasing its capacity by 27.5 per cent since June to 1.1 million seats.
More international services are also returning. Up to 36 weekly flights between Dubai and Europe are expected to resume between late October and December, while services to Athens and Manila are also being restored after months of regional disruption.
The recovery is not yet complete on every route. Some services remain suspended because of regional tensions - Etihad's flights between Abu Dhabi and Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, remain cancelled through 5 November - and passengers are advised to confirm their flight status directly with their airline before travelling, as schedules can change at short notice.
Even so, the October figures mark a clear rebuilding of capacity at the UAE's hubs after a difficult year for regional aviation, with Dubai - the world's busiest airport for international passengers - once again leading the expansion.
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