Dubai Airports ramps up operations as UAE airspace reopens

Dubai Airports has entered a recovery phase after UAE airspace restrictions were fully lifted on May 2, following more than two months of disruption., Khaleej Times reported.

The airport operator is scaling up flight movements at Dubai International Airport and working with airlines to progressively restore schedules.

The restrictions had been in place since February 28, when the UAE partially closed its airspace amid tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

What is happening at Dubai Airport now that UAE airspace has reopened?

Dubai Airports is increasing flight movements in line with available regional routing capacity, following confirmation that UAE air traffic has returned to normal.

Airlines can now progressively rebuild their schedules, though capacity remains dependent on the availability of flight paths across neighboring airspace. Continued coordination with regional air traffic authorities is required to optimize traffic flows.

How many passengers did Dubai Airport handle during the airspace disruption?

Despite the restrictions, Dubai International Airport handled around 6 million passengers, more than 32,000 aircraft movements and 213,000 tonnes of cargo between February 28 and April 30.

The impact on overall performance was still significant, with first-quarter passenger traffic falling 20.6% year-on-year to 18.6 million. March alone saw a 65.7% annual decline, with only 2.5 million travelers passing through.

Cargo volumes and aircraft movements also dropped during the period, reflecting a broader slowdown across the aviation sector.

Baggage volumes reached 17.6 million in the first quarter, and mishandling rates rose compared with the same period last year. India remained the airport's largest market, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan, with London, Mumbai and Jeddah the busiest city routes.

What is Dubai Airports' plan for rebuilding capacity?

Dubai Airports said it is working closely with airlines to gradually rebuild capacity over the coming months. The operator expects strong demand for international transfer traffic through the Middle East to support a swift recovery.

Long-term expansion plans at Al Maktoum International Airport are also expected to reinforce Dubai's position as a key global aviation hub.