Dubai International raises 2023 forecast to 85 million passengers
Dubai International (DXB) has once again upwardly revised its 2023 forecast of passenger traffic from 83.6 million to 85 million and would therefore be “just 1.6 per cent shy of DXB’s annual traffic in 2019.”
DXB’s passenger traffic for the first half of this year already surpassed the corresponding period of 2019. It welcomed 41.6 million guests in H1, just over 100 per cent compared to the traffic recorded during the first six months of 2019, and 49.1 per cent more compared to the 27.9 million guests it hosted in H1 2022. In the second quarter of this year, DXB’s traffic surged by 42.7 per cent year-on-year to reach 20.3 million. May was the busiest month within that quarter with 6.9 million guests passing through the airport.
ESTA Mobile App Launches in 40 Countries and 24 Languages
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of a new mobile application to enable travelers potentially eligible to enter under the Visa Waiver Program to submit ESTA applications easily and quickly from their smartphones, mobile devices or tablets.
Administered by CBP on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) was established under the Visa Waiver Program to strengthen the security of travel to the United States. ESTA is an automated system which determines the eligibility of visitors traveling to the United States and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk.
Gatwick bank holiday strike called off after improved pay offers
Gatwick airport will not be subject to strike disruption this bank holiday weekend, after members of the Unite union called off planned industrial action.
Earlier this month it was announced that over 230 employees from ground handling company Red Handling and passenger assistance firm Wilson James would take part in strike action in a dispute over pay.
The employees had been due to walk out for four days between Friday 25 and Monday 28 August, potentially affecting 45,000 passengers. Unite has confirmed that the strike action has been called off “after workers accepted dramatically improved pay offers”.
Travel news as a glance:
- British Airways simplifies colleting avios on flights.
- Delta to launch flights from Minneapolis St-Paul to Dublin.
- Virgin Atlantic launches sale and bonus points offers.
- Japan Airlines boosts Hong Kong and US routes
- Ethiopian upgrades Seoul to A350-900.
- Aeromexico plans South Korea return.