Aviation hubs report mixed traffic trends in Dubai and Rhodes

Dubai Airports has adjusted its passenger traffic forecasts, now expecting annual volume to reach 70 million by the end of 2026. This is a reduction from a previous target of 100 million. CEO Paul Griffiths noted that the US-Iran conflict and subsequent closure of Gulf airspace disrupted travel for nearly two months, impacting Dubai International Airport (DXB), which handled 18.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 23.4 million the previous year.

Despite these disruptions, Griffiths stated that capacity has recovered to 84% of pre-war levels. The airport expects to increase the number of cities served directly from 240 by mid-2027. Major markets for the hub remain India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

In Greece, Diagoras Airport in Rhodes reported a 3.6% increase in passenger traffic during the first eight months of 2026, with a total of 5,188,264 passengers. International travel accounted for 87% of this volume. August saw a record 1,377,659 passengers, driven largely by arrivals from the United Kingdom and Germany.