Scheduled seat capacity on flights departing UAE airports rose 23% between June and October 2026 to 7.2 million seats, as the country’s airlines expanded operations ahead of the winter travel season.
Capacity stood at 5.8 million departing seats in June, according to figures from aviation data provider OAG reported by the Arabic daily Al Khaleej and by Gulf News. That is an increase of 1.4 million seats.
UAE airports recorded about 34 million scheduled departing seats over the five months, or about 68 million seats counting flights in both directions.
Dubai International Airport led the increase. Its scheduled departing capacity rose 24.3% to 4.6 million seats in October from 3.68 million in June, the highest monthly figure in the period.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi had 1.7 million scheduled departing seats in October, up about 6.3% from 1.6 million in June. Sharjah airport had 840,000 seats in October, up nearly 12% from about 770,000 in June.
UAE airlines scheduled a combined 31 million departing seats between June and October. Their monthly capacity rose 20.5% to 6.5 million seats in October from 5.4 million in June.
Emirates scheduled 3.1 million departing seats in October, up 18.5% from 2.6 million in June, and led Middle Eastern airlines in capacity throughout the period.
Etihad Airways scheduled 1.43 million departing seats in October, up 16.3% from 1.23 million in June. Flydubai had 1.1 million seats in October, up 27.5% from 855,000 in June.
Air Arabia scheduled 860,000 departing seats in October, up 23% from 700,000 in June.
