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Dubai overtakes Atlanta as busiest airport globally in early 2025

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Dubai overtakes Atlanta as busiest airport globally in early 2025
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Airbus A380 | Airbus

Dubai International Airport has emerged as the world's busiest airport for the first quarter of 2025, according to Cirium Diio data. The airport recorded 15.1 million departing seats, surpassing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by 2%. This marks a significant achievement for Dubai, which leads in international capacity while Atlanta remains dominant in domestic seats.

James Pearson noted that "combined with Dubai's 2% year-on-year flight increase, it is no wonder the UAE airport is ranked first in those three months." However, he also pointed out that this position might be temporary as "Atlanta will regain the throne from Q2 onward," due to its seasonal capacity increase.

Dubai's rise can be attributed to Emirates' extensive A380 fleet and a 5.4% increase in available seats resulting from a 13.2% rise in flights. In contrast, Atlanta experienced a reduction in regional jet use and a slight decrease in available seats compared to pre-pandemic levels.

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The report highlights that Dubai has expanded its route map by adding 22 new destinations compared to the same period last year. Notable additions include Adelaide and Lagos, which returned to Emirates' network after being absent for some time. New routes such as Khost in Afghanistan and Bogotá via Miami have also been introduced.

Emirates and flydubai account for three-quarters of all seats at Dubai International Airport. The introduction of these new routes underscores Dubai's strategic efforts to enhance its global connectivity.

Organizations Included in this History
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