Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomes 2.56 million passengers in Q1 2022

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed 2.56 million guests in the first quarter of 2022.

According to passenger traffic results for Q1 2022 released by Abu Dhabi Airports, 2,563,297 passengers were served in Q1 2022 compared to 807,310 welcomed during Q1 2021, recording an increase of 218 per cent as Covid-19 related travel restrictions across the globe eased and markets re-opened.

The airport recorded 22,689 flights during the aforementioned period compared to 16,351 in 2021, marking an increase of 38.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the average passenger load factor reached 70 per cent during the first three months of the year versus 35 per cent achieved during the same period in 2021.

The airport now offers flights to 99 destinations across the globe on 26 airlines compared to 81 destinations on 18 carriers during Q1 2021.

The top five countries in terms of passenger volumes during the period were India (515,927), Pakistan (253,874), United Kingdom (170,620), Saudi Arabia (137,582) and Egypt (127,009). The busiest destinations served by AUH during Q1 2022 included London (123,055), Delhi (103,472), Islamabad (101,476), Kochi (90,022) and Dhaka (89,272).

“The first quarter continued to build on the momentum we saw in Q4 2021 as travel restrictions eased further, markets re-opened and airlines deployed capacity to accommodate the resulting surge in demand,” said Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports. “There is no doubt that developments such as the relaxation of travel restrictions to and from India, the re-opening of Australia and Singapore and the removal of mandatory PCR testing for passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi provided further lift.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport also welcomed the expansion of operations by home carriers Etihad Airways, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the launch of 10 new routes as well as the introduction of new carriers Go First and Pegasus Airlines.

Read: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launches services to new European destinations

A total of 1,737,290 bags were processed through the airport’s baggage system during the first three months of the year with a delivery success rate of 99.8 per cent. The airport also handled 144,114 tonnes of air freight during the first quarter, recording a decline of 15.7 per cent compared to 170,876 tonnes handled during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, top cargo markets during the period included the Netherlands (12,835 tonnes) and India (12,720 tonnes).