Abu Dhabi Airports marks 18th quarter of double-digit growth

Abu Dhabi Airports has recorded double-digit passenger growth for the 18th consecutive quarter, calling it a “landmark achievement anywhere in the world”.

 

The operator of five commercial airports in the UAE capital handled 8.49 million passengers between 1 July and 30 September 2025, up 10.1% year-on-year. 

 

The result brings total traffic in the first nine months of the year to 24.29 million, putting the operator on course to surpass its 2024 full-year total of 29 million passengers.

 

Growth continues to be driven by the expansion of home carrier Etihad Airways alongside the addition of new airlines and destinations.

 

The city’s main airport, Zayed International Airport (AUH), contributed the lion’s share of traffic, processing 8.35 million passengers in the third quarter, a 10.4% rise compared to Q3 2024. 

 

The airport recorded 49,073 aircraft movements during the period, up 5.9%, helping lift total flights across all five airports to 67,035, a 6% increase.

 

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Etihad Airways remains the cornerstone of this growth, carrying a record 16.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025 – an 18% year-on-year rise – supported by an active fleet of 115 aircraft and the launch of 27 new routes in six months.

 

Expanding route networks have further boosted performance. In the first three quarters of the year, AUH added more than a dozen destinations, including new IndiGo services to Madurai, Bhubaneswar and Vishakhapatnam. 

 

Abu Dhabi also welcomed returning and new carriers such as Jazeera Airways, reconnecting AUH and Al Ain International Airport (AAN) with Kuwait, China Eastern Airlines with flights to Shanghai, Air Seychelles with six weekly services, and Ethiopian Airlines with daily flights to Addis Ababa.

 

The third quarter also brought accolades for the airport operator, including Best Airport for Retail at the 2025 Frontier Awards. 

 

Elena Sorlini, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, credited the results to operational excellence and strong partnerships. “The aviation experience we offer is attracting an increasing number of visitors and investors each quarter to walk through our gates,” he said.

 

Abu Dhabi Airports manages five commercial airports across the emirate: Zayed International Airport (AUH), Al Ain International Airport (AAN), Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), Delma Island Airport (ZDY) and Sir Bani Yas Island Airport (XSB).

 

For more information, visit www.adairports.ae/en/">adairports.ae