Air traffic globally fell 90% as lockdowns and border closures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic dealt a hammer blow to international travel.
Air traffic globally has fallen 90% as lockdowns and border closures triggered by the coronavirus pandemic dealt a hammer blow to international travel.
"Dubai Airports today confirmed that Dubai International recorded a total of 17.8 million customers during the first quarter of 2020, a year-on-year contraction of 19.8%, a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic which dampened demand and reduced flight numbers," a statement from Dubai Airports, which owns and manages Dubai International and Dubai World Central Airports, revealed Thursday. DXB in 2019 was ranked the world's largest hub in terms of passenger traffic.
The dive in traffic numbers is a particular hit for the emirate's economy. The transport and storage sector, which includes land, air and water transport but is led by aviation, comprised 18.5% of Dubai's gross domestic product in 2017, and was the "most active driver" of its economy in the first half of 2019,Country-wide, aviation and tourism account for 13% of the UAE's GDP, according to International Air Transport Association figures from 2019.
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