Dubai Airports has entered the winter travel season with one of the most expansive networks in its history, as Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) add new airlines and strengthen overall connectivity. The expansion reflects rising seasonal demand and further reinforces Dubai’s standing as a leading global aviation hub.
Direct travel continues to define DXB’s winter operations, accounting for 55 per cent of total passenger demand. This seasonal uplift follows a familiar annual pattern shaped by cooler weather, a packed calendar of international business, sporting and entertainment events, residents travelling abroad for holidays or family visits, and the steady influx of people choosing Dubai for medium- and long-term stays.
Europe and Central Asia are driving notable growth during the winter period. FlyArystan has joined the DXB network with twice-weekly flights from Aktau in Kazakhstan, while Austrian Airlines has resumed services from Vienna with five weekly flights, adding further depth to Dubai’s European connectivity.
European carriers are also expanding capacity. Virgin Atlantic has deployed the A350-1000 on its Dubai route, increasing seat capacity by 52 per cent, while British Airways has reinstated A380 services from London Heathrow. Together, these developments signal strong confidence from European markets ahead of the peak festive season.
Seasonal demand from South Asia and the wider Middle East is also strengthening DXB’s connectivity. Varesh Airline has launched twice-weekly flights from Sari in Iran, while Fly Jinnah has introduced twice-weekly services from Lahore, reinforcing point-to-point travel from regional hubs where winter demand typically intensifies.
Saudi Arabia is delivering one of the most significant increases this winter. Already DXB’s second-largest country market, it accounts for 7.8 per cent of total passengers year-to-date as of October. Combined traffic from Saudi Arabia across DXB and DWC reached 6.3 million passengers, reflecting a 1.3 per cent year-on-year increase.
DWC recorded particularly strong growth, with passenger numbers rising 459 per cent to 173,000. The airport’s role within Dubai’s aviation ecosystem is becoming more prominent, as airlines utilise its available capacity to complement existing DXB services.
In the first ten months of the year, DWC welcomed 1.1 million passengers, marking a 36.6 per cent increase driven by demand from CIS, GCC and Western European markets. Cargo volumes and aircraft movements at the airport have also continued to rise, reinforcing its strategic momentum.
Eurowings has contributed significantly to this expansion, launching a daily service from Stuttgart to DXB, introducing a three-times-weekly service from Düsseldorf to DWC, and increasing frequencies to Berlin, Cologne and Hannover. The carrier has also added a Premium Bizclass offering on its Berlin route.
