Scheduled departing seats hit 7.2m in October, and European flights are gradually returning.
If you’re planning a winter trip out of the UAE, you may find there’s more choice than there was a few months ago. Scheduled departing seat capacity at UAE airports is up 23% between June and October, according to OAG data reported by Gulf News. The increase in UAE airport seat capacity comes as the busy winter season is upon us.
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The Big Number
Here’s the headline. In June UAE airports had circa 5.8m of scheduled departing seats. By October that was up to 7.2m (roughly 1.4m more). Over the five months, that’s a total of circa 34m departing seats. Airlines are clearly expanding in the run-up to winter and the year-end holidays, and the UAE airport seat capacity figures bear that out.
Which Airports Grew
Dubai International was by far the biggest mover, increasing from c.3.68m in June to 4.6m in October. Zayed International in Abu Dhabi reached 1.7m in October, and Sharjah hit c.840k (up from c.770k in June). So seat capacity at all the UAE airports went up, with Dubai again being the main driver.
Which Airlines Added Seats
The UAE’s own carriers did the growing. They went from 5.4m seats in June to 6.5m in October. Here’s the carrier-by-carrier picture behind the UAE airport seat capacity rise from June to October:
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- Emirates: 2.6 million to 3.1 million
- Etihad Airways: 1.23 million to 1.43 million
- Flydubai: 855,000 to 1.1 million
- Air Arabia: 700,000 to 860,000
- Europe Is Coming Back
Good news for those heading to Europe as well. As many as 36 weekly Dubai-Europe flights are expected to be back from late October through to December. Services to Athens and Manila are also being reinstated. It won’t be a complete solution overnight by any means, but it is a step in the right direction for UAE airport seat capacity on those routes.
A Quick Reality Check
These are scheduled seats (i.e., not passengers actually flown). Not every route is back to normal. Etihad have cancelled their flights from Abu Dhabi to Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah through to 5th November. Emirates have cancelled their flights from Dubai to Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah. Flydubai has suspended their flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha until 29th October. So more UAE airport seat capacity in total doesn’t necessarily mean that your particular route is running.
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Tips for Winter Travellers
Schedules can still change at short notice, so a few habits help while UAE airport seat capacity keeps growing:
- Check your flight status via the airline’s website or app prior to setting off.
- Keep an eye on your emails and texts for any cancellation or rebooking messages.
- Check your ticket’s refund and baggage rules.
- Arrive early. flydubai check-in closes 60 minutes prior to departure (unless otherwise advised).
The Bottom Line
More seats generally mean more options, and with any luck it’ll mean easier to book. Just keep an eye on your route. The UAE airport seat capacity story is still very much in its infancy as winter approaches.
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