Dubai Airports Gear Up for Winter Season with New Airlines and Enhanced Operational Capacity

Dubai airports have enhanced their readiness for the winter travel season by welcoming new airlines and expanding operational capacity to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic and seasonal demand.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) continue to broaden their operations and optimize schedules to align with the expected surge in passenger numbers. Direct flights remain a crucial element during the winter season at Dubai International, now representing about 55% of all passenger traffic. This growth is part of a regular annual cycle, fueled by pleasant weather, a calendar filled with international commercial, sports, and entertainment events, as well as residents traveling for vacations or family visits, and the ongoing arrival of individuals choosing to live in Dubai for the medium or long term.
Central Role
Al Maktoum International Airport’s central role within the wider aviation system in Dubai is increasing as more airlines take advantage of its available capacity, serving as a complement to the existing services at Dubai International. In the first ten months of the year, the airport welcomed 1.1 million passengers, marking a growth of 36.6%, driven by rising demand from the CIS countries, GCC nations, and Western Europe. Furthermore, indicators for air cargo and aircraft movement continue to show upward trends, reinforcing the airport’s strategic momentum and its expanding role.
Eurowings plays a significant part in this growth by launching a new daily service to Dubai International from Stuttgart, alongside three weekly flights to Al Maktoum International from Düsseldorf, and increasing the frequency of flights to Berlin, Cologne, and Hanover, offering a Premium Economy cabin on the Berlin route.
Remarkable Growth
Saudi Arabia is recording one of the highest growth rates this season, being the second-largest market for Dubai International Airport, accounting for 7.8% of total passenger traffic until October of this year. The total travel volume between Saudi Arabia and the two Dubai airports reached approximately 6.3 million passengers, reflecting an annual growth of 1.3%. Notably, Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International) saw exceptional growth of 459%, with passenger numbers rising to 173,000.
Increasing Growth
European and Central Asian countries are contributing to growth during the current winter season, with Fly Arystan joining the airline network on November 29 with two weekly flights from Aktau, Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines resumed operations on December 2 with five weekly flights from Vienna. The incoming capacity from European airlines is also experiencing additional growth, as Virgin Atlantic introduced the A350-1000 to the Dubai route, increasing seat availability by 52%, while British Airways has reinstated its A380 aircraft for flights from London Heathrow. Collectively, these steps reflect strong confidence from European markets as the holiday season approaches. The seasonal rise in demand from South Asia and the broader Middle East is further enhancing air connectivity through Dubai International Airport. Fly Erisht Airline launched two weekly flights from Sari, Iran, starting October 30, while Fly Jannah added two weekly flights from Lahore from November 2, boosting direct travel from regional hubs that usually see significant seasonal travel peaks to and from Dubai.
Air Connectivity
Robert Whitehouse, Vice President of Research Development at Dubai Airports, stated, “The winter season is always a pivotal moment for the aviation sector in Dubai, reflecting the expanding network this season and the continuous evolution of demand levels. The growth in direct flight movements through our airports represents a balanced mix of incoming visitors and residents traveling abroad, along with the increasing number of people choosing Dubai as their home. This underscores the expansion of air connectivity, its increasing diversity, and adaptability.” The improvements seen in this winter season’s schedules highlight the confidence of airline partners in the robust and diverse demand for travel to Dubai. They also emphasize the city’s appeal to both leisure and business travelers, as well as many individuals who have chosen to reside here, supporting sustained growth in direct travel and reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets.