Dubai International Airport (DXB) saw passenger numbers dip 2.2 per cent to 22.2 million in the first quarter of 2019, when compared to the same period last year, due largely to reduced flights and a shift in the timing of the Easter holiday.  

The first quarter of 2019 saw a total of 22,230,810 customers served. The average monthly passenger traffic volume of 7.41 million was slightly lower than the average monthly traffic of 7.42 million recorded in 2018, a DXB statement revealed. It noted that a total of 641,250 tonnes of airfreight was handled at DXB during the first three months of 2019, up 4.1 per cent.

Total passenger flights during the first three months of 2019 totalled 95,857, down 3 per cent from last year, partially due to the grounding of 737 Max aircraft in effect since March 13 in the UAE.

India continued to hold to its position as DXB’s top destination country by passenger numbers, with traffic for the quarter reaching 3.1 million, propelled mainly by top city destinations Mumbai, Delhi and Cochin.

Saudi Arabia was number two on the list with 1.7 million customers, followed closely by the UK with 1.5 million customers.

The top three cities were London with 871,180 customers, Mumbai and Jeddah, with 624,442 and 605,628 customers respectively.

The GCC was the fastest growing region with a growth of 3.8 per cent, followed by North America with 2.7 per cent growth.

Wait times were reduced by 30 per cent in Q1 2019, thanks to DXB’s advanced operations centre which uses real-time information to improve service and efficiency, as well as the smart gates that help speed customers through immigration.

Some 13.3 million bags, down 0.9 per cent, passed through Dubai International's 175 km long baggage system during the first quarter of the year. - TradeArabia News Service