DXB set to maintain top position in outbound air traffic for 2023, according to report

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is set to retain its title as the globe's premier hub for outbound flights in 2023, contributing to 2% of the worldwide outbound flights, per the latest insights from ForwardKeys.

The study, spanning the initial seven months of 2023, blended with predictions for the rest of the year, points out that DXB's traffic is projected to trail only 1% from 2019 levels. This performance surpasses London's Heathrow and Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport, holding the second and third positions respectively.

One of the core reasons behind DXB's robust performance is its strategic location as a global nexus, which has reaped benefits from the revival of travel from Europe, North America, and India. Moreover, "The anticipated bounce-back of long-haul travel from China will further enhance outbound seating capacity," the study highlighted.

Heathrow's traffic is poised to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2%, while Charles de Gaulle's traffic lags 10%.
Other key rankings include Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport at fourth, trailing by 12% from pre-pandemic figures, and Singapore's Changi Airport at fifth, down by 15% from previous norms. The top eight in the list are each predicted to cover 2% of total global outbound flights.

Qatar's Hamad International Airport has risen to the ninth spot, with an impressive 15% surge above pre-pandemic figures, holding 1% of the global share.

In the "World's Busiest Airports" report, ForwardKeys acknowledged the geopolitical impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict on global air routes. The persistent conflict has not only swelled the traffic for airports in Southeast Europe and the Middle East due to detours from Russia's restricted airspace but has also reshaped European connectivity on specific paths.

Furthermore, Istanbul Airport made noteworthy progress, jumping seven slots to claim the sixth position with a commendable 37% growth from pre-COVID-19 levels. Conversely, South Korea's Incheon International Airport dropped to seventh, witnessing a decline of 23% compared to pre-pandemic figures.