Since the beginning of the current year, national carriers have continued to expand their destinations to meet the increasing demand for travel, supported by the momentum of the UAE as a preferred global destination for tourism and business. Thanks to their extensive expertise and achievements, they have managed to surpass many other carriers, both regionally and globally, enabling them to offer diverse options and expand their network of destinations worldwide. This comes in the context of the recovery of air travel in the UAE after the repercussions of the pandemic, where challenges have turned into opportunities for achieving new and sustainable growth.
Based on official data from national carriers, their flights now reach approximately 603 destinations worldwide by the end of the first quarter of the year, including both shared destinations and cargo destinations, compared to about 586 destinations at the end of the previous year in 2023, representing a growth rate of 3%.
The network of national carriers in the UAE has witnessed significant growth, currently encompassing approximately 143 destinations for Emirates Airlines, 76 destinations for Etihad Airways, 129 destinations for flydubai, and about 215 destinations for Air Arabia. Flights operate from 7 strategic operation centers in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Armenia, and Pakistan. The destinations of “Air Arabia Abu Dhabi” include around 29 destinations, while the “Wizz Air Abu Dhabi” portfolio includes about 40 destinations.