UAE national carriers expand to 606 destinations amid rising travel demand
UAE airlines boost global network and passenger capacity, with Etihad Airways and Emirates leading major expansions and upgrades
UAE National Airlines Expand to 606 Destinations Amid Surge in Travel Demand
ABU DHABI [UAE], Aug 26 (ANI/WAM): UAE’s national airlines are expanding their destinations, driven by the country’s strong global tourism and business reputation and surge in travel demand. Reflecting the current growth and competitiveness of UAE airlines, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) expects passenger numbers to reach 140 million.
Official data shows that the UAE’s national airlines now serve 606 destinations worldwide, including joint and cargo routes, a 3.4 percent increase from the 586 destinations served by the end of 2023. Destinations are Etihad Airways with 79 seats, flydubai. 125 seats, Air Arabia has 218 seats and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has 40 seats.
Etihad Airways, in particular, is expanding its route network with the aim of reaching 125 destinations by 2030. The airline aims to improve its strategic position between Asia and Europe and increase its annual passenger numbers to 33 million.
Etihad Airways has been strengthening its network since the beginning of this year, planning to expand to more than 125 destinations by 2030. This expansion strategy takes advantage of its strategic location between Asia and Europe. The airline expects to introduce several new destinations this year after launching 15 new routes last year, including Lisbon, Copenhagen, Calcutta and Osaka. In addition, Etihad will increase flights to Thailand to 41 per week from October and will resume flights to Nairobi on 15 December.
In the first seven months of 2024, Etihad Airways carried 10.4 million passengers and expanded to 93 aircraft at the end of July, compared to 78 aircraft in July 2023. AED 851 million, up 48 percent year-on-year, with revenue up 21 percent to AED 11.7 billion.
Emirates currently operates a network of 144 passenger and cargo destinations across six continents, continuously working to increase seat capacity to meet growing travel demand and provide flexibility and choice for passengers transiting through Dubai.
Emirates Airlines plans to fly its upgraded Boeing 777 to Zurich and Riyadh in early October, adding the same aircraft to operations in Geneva and Brussels. Emirates is completing the refurbishment of 80 Boeing 777 aircraft as part of a US$3 billion-plus project to deliver industry-leading products and services and elevate the passenger experience to an unprecedented level.
