Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes 15.9 million passengers in 2022

In 2022, Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed 15.9 million guests across Abu Dhabi International, Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma Island and Sir Bani Yas Island Airports. This figure is thrice the number (5.26 million) recorded in 2021.

The figures were released on the sidelines of the World Cargo Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The company’s 2022 traffic results also reflected growth in other important areas of the business, including air traffic movements (ATMs) across the five airports, which totalled 194,667 for the year.

Set for further growth

Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, MD and CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, said that 2022 was a remarkable year for Abu Dhabi in passenger traffic terms. “It illustrates the emirate’s vast potential as an attractive destination to visit, live and work in. Our recent airport infrastructure investments, sustained excellence across customer service, operations, and ongoing collaborations with key stakeholders and government organisations, including the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, whom we work closely with to grow Abu Dhabi’s travel, tourism and business offering, enabling investment across industries, and welcoming new audiences to visit Abu Dhabi.

“Looking ahead, we are working towards readiness to accommodate even greater passenger traffic in 2023, which we anticipate, as higher numbers of international visitors come to the UAE for key events. Sustainability continues to play a big role in everything we do, from design to construction to operation and delivery. Such opportunities underscore that this is truly an exciting time for Abu Dhabi and the aviation transformational journey that is unfolding.”

Abu Dhabi Airports: Milestone in figures

Cargo traffic results were also good, with 583,949 tonnes of air freight handled across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports, as airlines continued rebalancing their fleets between passenger and cargo aircraft. Increases in shipments of both general cargo and specialised products such as express, temperature-controlled, and pharmaceuticals contributed to the growth.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Q4 2022 results showed that the airport served 4.78 million passengers from October 1 to December 31 – almost double the 2.43 million in Q4 2021.

In Q3, passenger traffic totalled 4.7 million, a rise of 250 per cent compared to the 1.3 million passengers in Q3 2021.

In October last year, Abu Dhabi Airports unveiled a new brand identity. The refreshed brand architecture, unifying the visual identity of Abu Dhabi Airports and its subsidiaries, draws inspiration from Abu Dhabi’s visionary leadership, economic vision and reputation as one of the world’s most touristic destinations, the company said in a statement.

Read: Abu Dhabi Airports unveils new brand identity

As of December 2022, Abu Dhabi International Airport serves more than 100 destinations and has a growing network of 28 airlines.