On a global level, partly due to seasonality and more recently due to the re-enactment of lockdown measures in recent weeks, we have seen the recovery in the number of flights slow in November 2021.
In October, the number of daily flights for the month reached an average of almost 95,000, in the month-to-date to 21st November, this has fallen to around 90,500. In the year-to-date to November 21st, compared to the same period in 2019, the average number of daily flights is 28.8% lower. Whilst, this is a marked improvement from 2020, where the average number of daily flights sat 42.2% below the comparative 2019 figure, it is clear that the global recovery in travel still has some way to go.
In contrast, Dubai International Airport, has seen a sustained recovery over recent months. In the month-to-date to 21st November compared to the same period a year earlier, Dubai’s percentage increase in the average number of daily flights, stands almost three times higher than the 33.7% increase seen globally. Whilst Dubai’s total flight and passenger number still sit a material level below pre-pandemic levels, Dubai International Airport is expected to return to full operational capacity in the coming weeks and return to pre-pandemic levels within a year.
