Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes 6.3 million passengers in H1 2022, as travel demand spikes

Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of the emirate’s five airports, has released its passenger traffic report for H1 2022.

The report recorded passenger traffic of 6,299,725 across Abu Dhabi International, Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma and Sir Bani Yas Island airports between January 1 and June 30. The airports also recorded 94,538 flights in H1 2022.

Read: Dubai’s DXB records 27.9 million passengers in first six months of the year

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Our passenger traffic results for this year’s first half represent another stride forward for Abu Dhabi Airports and the wider industry. While 2021 was a successful year, the target for 2022 was always to build on that momentum by catering to higher numbers of travellers and expanding our airline network with partners while staying committed to the highest levels of service excellence.”

He added, “The resumption of regional and global markets and successful efforts of airlines to accommodate demands safely and effectively, have been instrumental to achieving these figures. Looking ahead, our aim is to continue building on this success throughout the second half of 2022.”

Other H1 highlights
In addition to the passenger traffic and air traffic management results, the sustainability of airport operations was another standout takeaway from official H1 2022 figures. At Abu Dhabi International (AUH) alone, the Abu Dhabi’s largest airport, the number of scheduled passenger flights increased by 94 per cent compared to the first half of 2021.

The airport is now connected to 101 scheduled passenger destinations served by 23 airlines, compared to 76 destinations by 19 airlines in the same period last year. The top five countries in terms of passenger volumes at AUH during H1 2022 are India (1,280,000), Pakistan (485,000), UK (374,000), Saudi Arabia (333,000) and Egypt (283,000).

Meanwhile, the top five destination airports were London Heathrow (276,000), Delhi (225,000), Mumbai (221,000), Cochin (217,000) and Cairo (203,000). Abu Dhabi International also handled 297,549 tonnes of air freight during the first half of the year.

Key Q2 highlights

Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded positive passenger traffic results for the second quarter of 2022. Between April and June, scheduled passenger flights at AUH increased by 117 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2021. AUH was also connected to 104 scheduled passenger destinations served by 22 airlines, compared to 74 destinations by 19 airlines in Q2 2021.

The top five countries in terms of passenger volumes at AUH during Q2 were India (764,000), Pakistan (231,000), UK (203,000), Saudi Arabia (195,000) and Egypt (156,000).

Meanwhile, the top five destination airports were London Heathrow (153,000), Mumbai (146,000), Cochin (126,000), Delhi (123,000) and Cairo (114,000). Load factors also increased at AUH during the first half of 2022, improving to 73 per cent compared to 33 per cent only during the same period last year.

In other news, Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport reopened recently following the successful completion of a major refurbishment project to meet increased operational demand.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport reopens following major refurbishment

The project, completed in under 90 days, involved the resurfacing and widening of the existing 3.2-kilometre runway to accommodate wide-body aircraft and a substantial new boundary wall, upgraded ground lighting, enhanced signage and landscape.