Dubai Airports CEO Says Operations Scaling Up After UAE Airspace Fully Restored

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DUBAI — Dubai Airports is rapidly scaling up operations and increasing flight movements following the full restoration of UAE airspace, which had been partially closed since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war in late February, CEO Paul Griffiths announced on Monday.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Griffiths confirmed that the normalization of regional airspace now allows the hub to progressively restore capacity and expand flight schedules in coordination with airline partners .

“Now that UAE airspace is fully restored, we are scaling up operations and increasing flight movements in line with available regional routing capacity.” — Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports

✈️ Record High Demand Despite War Disruption

Griffiths revealed that despite the volatile conditions, Dubai’s airports have kept global travel moving at an unprecedented scale. Between late February and April 30, the hubs “safely supported” more than 6 million passengers, over 32,000 aircraft movements, and over 213,000 tons of essential cargo .

This operational continuity, he noted, was achieved through constant adaptation and real-time alignment of schedules and passenger flows, often under rapidly changing airspace restrictions .

“Maintaining operational continuity under pressure depends not only on infrastructure but on disciplined execution, clear communication and the ability to respond collectively as a system,” Griffiths said .

🛡️ Navigating ‘Unprecedented’ Threats

The war, which began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, prompted Iran to retaliate with waves of missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, including airports, energy facilities, and ports . The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, bore the brunt of these strikes.

The disruption forced authorities to partially close national airspace on February 28 to safeguard flights, crews, and infrastructure — a closure that lasted for over two months . Restrictions were partially lifted on May 2, with flight resumptions following shortly thereafter .

🏗️ Immediate Recovery and Outlook

The full reopening of the airspace came just in time for the crucial summer travel season. Griffiths labeled the decision by civil aviation authorities as a “major cause for celebration,” predicting a “very, very strong recovery over the forthcoming weeks and months” .

In a clear signal to the global market, he added that he wants to get the message out “across the world that DXB is open for full business now” .

National carriers Emirates and flydubai are expected to lead the recovery, supported by full backing from insurers. However, Griffiths noted that foreign airlines still need to ensure their insurance and travel restrictions are fully removed .

📉 Q1 Passenger Drop

The full impact of the two-month crisis was reflected in Dubai Airports’ first-quarter passenger numbers. DXB welcomed 18.6 million passengers in the first three months of 2026, down 20.6% from a year earlier . March was the sharpest point of stress, with passenger traffic falling 65.7% to 2.5 million .

Despite this sharp drop, India remained the largest source market for the airport, accounting for 2.5 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan . Among destinations, London recorded the highest traffic with 752,000 passengers, followed by Mumbai and Jeddah .

Still, Griffiths expressed confidence that the experience gained during the conflict has made the system more resilient, enabling it to “accommodate returning demand as capacity is restored” .

📋 Key Takeaways

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