Abu Dhabi Airports continues its upward streak with new international routes and major infrastructure milestones
Abu Dhabi Airports is flying higher than ever, clocking 17 consecutive quarters of double-digit passenger growth and powering through H1 2025 with impressive momentum.
Between January and June, more than 15.8 million passengers traveled through the emirate’s five commercial airports; a 13.1 per cent surge over the same period in 2024.
The powerhouse behind this surge? Zayed International Airport (AUH), handling a staggering 15.5 million passengers, up 13.2 per cent year-on-year.
It wasn’t just passengers on the rise; flight activity jumped too. Abu Dhabi’s airports handled 133,533 flights in H1 2025, a 9.2 per cent increase compared to last year. AUH alone saw 93,858 aircraft movements, a remarkable 11.4 per cent growth.
Abu Dhabi Airports isn’t just growing; it’s connecting more dots on the global map. 16 new destinations were added in H1 2025, further boosting Abu Dhabi’s international appeal.
Some key highlights include:
China Eastern Airlines adding Shanghai with daily service coming this September
Air Seychelles launching six weekly flights
Fly Cham opening new access to Damascus
IndiGo ramping up its UAE footprint with fresh routes to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Vishakhapatnam, making AUH the airline’s most connected hub in the country
Freight saw serious gains too; with 344,795 tonnes of cargo moved in H1 2025. This was backed by smart infrastructure upgrades and a standout joint venture with JD Property, the real estate and logistics arm of China’s JD.com.
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The deal will see the development of a 70,000 sqm advanced logistics facility, strategically positioned to support fast-growing east-west e-commerce across the GCC and MENA regions.
Abu Dhabi Airports also ticked off major milestones that support long-term vision and operational excellence:
Sir Bani Yas Airport completed major upgrades to support Al Dhafra’s eco-tourism potential
AUH earned a prestigious three Pearl Estidama rating for sustainable construction and was crowned Best Airport at Arrivals Globally (again!) at the ACI ASQ Awards
Al Bateen Executive Airport moved forward with MRO expansion thanks to new collaboration with Bombardier
A key MoU with TAQA Distribution was signed to explore next-gen utility and sustainability technologies
As the numbers show, Abu Dhabi Airports is not just maintaining momentum; it’s accelerating.
With strong passenger and cargo performance, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a growing list of international partners, the operator is carving out its place as a global aviation leader.
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