Still the same: world’s busiest airport keeps its crown

The world's busiest airport isn't JFK in New York, London's Heathrow, or Dubai International.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (above) in the US has retained its spot as the world’s busiest airport in 2025 with 63.1 million passengers last year.

Dubai International stayed second globally and continued rapid long-term growth, figures release this week by OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry.

Dubai International has 62.4 million flyers while Tokyo's Haneda Airport remained third. Heathrow was fourth and Istanbul Airport fifth. 

Chicago O’Hare and Istanbul Airport recorded the strongest year-on-year growth among the global top 10, increasing capacity by 8% and 6% respectively.

Istanbul stands out as one of the fastest-growing major hubs globally, with capacity now 22% higher than in 2019.

“The 2025 rankings show that global aviation has moved into a new phase of growth," said OAG chief analyst John Grant.

"Dubai’s continued expansion and Istanbul’s rise as a global hub demonstrate how airline networks are evolving, while the resilience of large domestic markets continues to underpin global capacity.”

The busiest airports are concentrated largely in North America and Asia due to the very large domestic markets with four airports in North America and three in Asia alongside two in Europe and one in the middle east.

 

You can find the full rankings and methodology on OAG’s website.

Dubai wants technology to kill off traditional hospitality

Whenever I check into a hotel I invariably have a chat with the check-in staff.

Maybe there is an event or market going on nearby, or perhaps they can recommend a local restaurant, or nearby wine bar.

It is all part of the hospitality industry, but it is human interaction that officials in Dubai are apparently keen to kill off.

Dubai is rolling out a citywide, contactless hotel check-in system that will allow guests to skip the front desk entirely after completing a one-time digital and biometric registration, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Officials are describing the move as "a new global benchmark for convenience and innovation in hospitality".

It will probably also save hotels money on staff, but don't mention that.

Announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, the initiative enables travellers staying at hotels and holiday homes to complete check-in formalities before arrival using their mobile phones.

Once fully implemented across the city, guests will be able to bypass in-person check-in completely, streamlining arrivals and reducing wait times but making each stay more impersonal.

The system, developed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and offered through several independent technology providers, allows guests to upload identification documents and biometric data a single time.

That information remains securely stored and valid until the ID document expires. For future stays, guests would only need a quick authentication, such as facial recognition, to access their accommodations.

Officials say the initiative directly supports the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. That aims to strengthen the Emirate’s position as a leading global hub for business and leisure while accelerating digital transformation and smart city development.

Nearly a quarter of Dubai’s visitors are repeat travellers, and authorities see the new check-in process as a way to enhance loyalty by making return visits faster and more seamless.

“By leveraging cutting-edge solutions, we are not only enhancing the visitor journey, but also strategically positioning Dubai for sustained tourism growth,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

He added that the program reflects the city’s ambition to create a smart, secure and frictionless urban environment.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, described the rollout as a milestone for Dubai’s hospitality sector. He said it highlights the impact of collaboration between public and private sectors and supports the broader goal of expanding tourism’s contribution to the emirate’s economy.

Dubai is home to 820 hotels and hotel apartments and welcomed 15.7 million international overnight visitors in the first 10 months of 2025.

Dubai to make a splash with the world's tallest hotel

The world's tallest hotel will open its doors in November - and it also boasts the highest infinity pool. 

Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG, will span floors and soar to a height of 377 metres. 

It is described as "an architectural masterpiece offering a new luxury hospitality experience defined by award-winning design, high-end guest experiences, exceptional facilities and stunning views".

So no guest expectations. 

Ciel Dubai Marina has been designed by award-winning architect NORR, featuring an “eye of the needle” shape (top image). 

The hotel will comprise 1,004 rooms and suites, all with floor-to-ceiling glass windows showcasing panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf, and Dubai’s skyline.

To be managed by The First Group Hospitality, the hotel offers direct access to Dubai Marina’s world-class dining, shopping, stunning beaches, and renowned attractions. 

It is just minutes from Palm Jumeirah and Uptown Dubai. 

“We are extremely proud to witness our vision for Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection come to life in a truly idyllic location, with unbeatable views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline,” says Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group.  

“Ciel represents a landmark development that reinforces Dubai’s position as a global hub for tourism and business travel. Standing at 377 meters, the all-hotel tower will redefine upper-upscale hospitality, blending innovation, luxury, and creativity through its striking design, world-class amenities, and breathtaking vistas".

Ciel Dubai Marina will have eight dining "concepts" ranging from buffets to signature restaurants, casual cafés and award-winning international brands. 

Beyond dining, the hotel will offer a luxury spa on the 61st floor, a state-of-the-art (aren't they all nowadays) gym with panoramic views, and exclusive access to Soluna Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah. Families will find tailored experiences for children, while business travellers can take advantage of the executive lounge and flexible meeting spaces.

This year has seen several major hotel openings in Dubai, including Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, a superyacht-inspired property with 386 rooms and suites, that began welcoming guests in March.

Other anticipated openings include the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, which will have 259 rooms and suites in the Wasl Tower, as well as Zuha Resort Villas on the World Islands.

For more information, see www.cieldubai.com

Luxury hotel brands offer new experiences in Dubai

Dubai, the always-evolving heartbeat of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the arrival of five major hotels arrivals in 2025
. 

Dubai’s tourism industry continues with the opening of a suite of accommodation options catering to families, luxury travellers, and visitors seeking affordable stopover stays, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) says.

 

The newcomers will be: 

Ciel Dubai Marina

Rising above Dubai Marina, the upcoming Ciel Tower (top image) will be the world’s tallest hotel. Stretching over 80 floors, this architectural gem will house over 1,000 rooms and suites, along with 10 diverse dining options. Guests will enjoy an exclusive Observation Deck on the 81st floor with views of the city, as well as a luxury spa, high-tech fitness centre, and sophisticated guest lounge. 

Mama Shelter

Recently opened, the affordable Mama Shelter brings a playful, design-led brand to Business Bay. Geared towards modern travellers, this lifestyle hotel has four stylish swimming pools, one featuring a semi-submerged bar, an outdoor cinema, and a rooftop DJ lounge. One for the young, or young at heart. Mama Shelter boasts a co-working space with five private ateliers. 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab

The brand new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is the latest chapter in Jumeirah Group’s ultra-luxury evolution. The property features 386 rooms and suites, 82 luxury residences, an 82-berth superyacht marina, 11 dining experiences and a TALISE spa. Panoramic windows frame views of the Arabian Gulf and the iconic Burj Al Arab, while four sparkling outdoor pools provide leisure oases.

Delano Dubai

The Delano brand's Miami origins give a different accent to the Delano Dubai, which arrives in the UAE with 251 rooms and 84 suites; many designed with secluded balconies, high ceilings, and wellness-driven details. Set along 250 meters of beachfront, the Delano offers views of the Arabian Gulf and guests can unwind at the oceanfront pool, indulge in a range of retail, dining and entertainment options. 

Mandarin Oriental Downtown

Opening in June 2025, Mandarin Oriental Downtown will mark the brand's second hotel in Dubai and third in the UAE. Located in the striking Wasl Tower, this 303-meter skyscraper boasts the region’s tallest ceramic façade. Inside are 259 elegant rooms and suites, along with 224 residences. Guests can enjoy dining at Tasca by José Avillez, unwind in the 25-meter pool, or skip traffic with transport from the hotel’s helipad. 

Emirates boosts direct Melbourne flight schedule

Emirates is introducing a third daily non-stop service between Dubai and Melbourne, starting from March 30.

The third service will be operated with a newly retro-fitted four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300ER.

It is equipped with both premium economy and new-generation business class seats.

The airline already operates two non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Melbourne using four-class Airbus A380s, as well as a daily flight that connects Dubai to Melbourne via Singapore with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

But the Emirates’ flights between Singapore and Melbourne will cease on March 30, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The aniline now plans to operate the third direct Dubai-Melbourne flight and a fourth Dubai-Singapore service with new flight numbers.

A third daily non-stop Melbourne flight means more convenient schedules and choice, with connectivity and travel options via Dubai to 27 European cities including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Emirates’ latest refurbished Boeing 777 includes eight first classs suites, 40 business class seats, 24 seats in premium economy, and 256 economy class seats.

The airline’s business class seat converts to a flat-bed.

Every business customer has aisle access with the four abreast layout. Customers will also be able to enjoy their own personal mini-bar, table for dining or working, and multiple charging outlets.

Tetsuya snares a new Michelin star

Influential Australian chef Tetsuya Wakuda has earned another Michelin star just six months after opening a new restaurant.

Sagetsu by Tetsuya was this month awarded a star in the third edition of the annual Michelin Guide Dubai.

The restaurant only opened in February but was listed among four two-star and 15 one-star restaurants in Dubai.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, said: “Dubai is now truly recognised as an international gastronomic destination and its impressive development continues year on year. Its appeal isn’t just with international travellers or local gourmets; talented chefs and restaurateurs from around the world are now also attracted by its vibrant dining scene and arrive keen to make their own mark in the city."

Tetsyua's in Sydney, an icon over almost four decades, will close its door on July 31 but the Japanese-born chef still runs eateries in Singapore and Dubai. He also operates Wakuda restaurant at The Venetian resort in Las Vegas. 

The award came just weeks after Japanese restaurant Waku Ghin, helmed by Wakuda in Singapore, dropped to the one-star tier after holding two stars for several years.

Sagetsu by Tetsuya, part of the One&Only One Za'abeel complex, earned praise from the Michelin inspectors.

"In a place where the moon and sand meet, as the name suggests, chef Tetsuya Wakuda's cuisine brings together Japanese precision and French techniques," the guide says.

"The tasting menu clearly conveys the essence of the dishes, highlighting balanced flavours made with few ingredients.

"The signature dishes, such as a sea urchin with Bohan shrimp, are complemented by the restaurant’s remarkable sake selection. An omakase experience is recommended to step into the mind of the chef. The décor is minimal and chic as it uses a lot of stone and wood, helping to create a serene Japanese atmosphere, with views of Dubai’s urban skyline."

Sagetsu by Tetsuya is located on a 120-metre cantilever between two high-rise towers.

Dubai unveils plans for the world's biggest airport

Dubai has unveiled plans for what will be the world's largest airport.

Once complete, Al Makhtoum International Airport will be capable of handling 260 million passengers per year. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai said.

It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, which is already ranked top globally for international passenger traffic, travel news portal Skift reported.

Dubai officials said airport operations would be switched from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport “within the next 10 years.”

“Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The rulers has approved the designs for the new terminals and given the go ahead for the commencement of construction for the project. It is expected to cost $US35 billion.

The airport will be able to accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways, according to an official statement.

“DXB (Dubai International Airport) will continue to serve as the primary hub, meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC (Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport) takes shape," Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

"We will be actively collaborating with our airline customers, our strategic partners, the Dubai Government, and our stakeholders to bring this visionary project to fruition.

“There isn’t really the space to be able to add additional runways or terminals at DXB so all eyes are on the potential future of another airport development at DWC.”

Dubai has also set an ambitious target of 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031.

“The new airport… will prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector. It will respond to the Hub Airline ambitious plans in terms of fleet acquisition and passenger growth,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.

Major airline offers big apology

As it clears a backlog of around 30,000 delayed bags, Emirates Airline has issued a rare fulsome apology for its failings.

Airline president Sir Tim Clark admitted that the airline had let down its customers through a lack of contingency planning after the United Arab Emirates was last week hit by storms and unprecedented flooding.

"I would like to offer our most sincere apologies to every customer who has had their travel plans disrupted during this time," Clark said.

"On Tuesday, April 16, the UAE experienced its highest rainfall in 75 years.

"Lashing storm winds and rain disrupted activity across the cities. Our 24/7 hub in Dubai remained open, with flight movements reduced for safety, but flooded roads impeded the ability of our customers, pilots, cabin crew, and airport employees to reach the airport, and also the movement of essential supplies like meals and other flight amenities.

"We diverted dozens of flights to avoid the worst of the weather on Tuesday, and over the next three days we had to cancel nearly 400 flights and delay many more, as our hub operations remained challenged by staffing and supply shortages."

The chaos extended to suspending check-in for passengers departing Dubai, implementing an embargo on ticket sales, and temporarily halting connecting passenger traffic from points across the network coming into Dubai.

"We sent over 100 employee volunteers to look after disrupted customers at Dubai Airport departures and in the transit area, prioritising medical cases, the elderly and other vulnerable travellers," Clark said.

"To date, over 12,000 hotel rooms were secured to accommodate disrupted customers in Dubai, 250,000 meal vouchers have been issued, and more quantities of drinking water, blankets, and other amenities."

But a lot of customers were extremely unhappy that Emirates had no plans to deal with the chaos and were left to fend for themselves in the airport. .

"We have put together a taskforce to sort, reconcile, and deliver some 30,000 pieces of left-behind baggage to their owners," Clark said.

"We know our response has been far from perfect. We acknowledge and understand the frustration of our customers due to the congestion, lack of information, and confusion in the terminals. We acknowledge that the long queues and wait times have been unacceptable."

Among the stranded baggage was that of Australians en route to Gallipoli for Anzac Day events. 

Personally, I'm not surprised. A while back I need information and help from Emirates' PR team. The response was underwhelming and I vowed to avoid them, where possible, in the future.

Emirates to add second daily Perth-Dubai flight

Emirates is boosting its already high profile in Australia by announcing that it will launch a second daily flight from Perth to Dubai later this year.

The new service - to start from December - will be supported by the Western Australian Government in partnership with Perth Airport.

It will will bring more than 129,000 new inbound seats to Western Australia every year.

The new flight will operate on a 777-300ER alongside Emirates' existing A380 daily service.

This returned service will provide further flight options for travellers from Western Australia's priority tourism markets, including Europe, the UK and US, during Western Australia's summer season.

Latest figures show Perth's international aviation capacity has now recovered to 94% of pre-Covid levels with the state on track to restore aviation capacity before the end of the financial year.

Western Australia is the only Australian state or territory with non-stop aviation connections with the UK and Europe with services between Perth and London, Rome, and a soon-to-launch Paris service.

For more information visit emirates.com/au

Snakes prove a slippery problem for airlines

A snake on a plane this week caused major flight disruption at Dubai International Airport.

The reptilian stowaway was spotted in the cargo hold of an Air India Express aircraft after the flight had landed from Kerala.

Fire crews were alerted and the snake was removed and the entire aircraft was fumigated, leading to some disruption at the air hub.

All passengers disembarked safely.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said a lapse by ground staff was behind the incident and an investigation had been launched.

It is not the only snake-on-a-plane incident in recent months, Travel Mole reports.

Snakes have been found slithering inside passenger cabins on an AirAsia flight and on a United Airlines flight at Newark Airport.

Image: Sergey Lexin, Scopio 

QE2 to become a luxury floating hotel

The famous Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship is to be converted to a floating hotel based in Dubai. 

Accor, a leading hospitality group with over 400 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, is adding the world-renowned cruise ship, to its portfolio. 

The cruise ship will undergo upgrades and renovations prior to joining the MGallery Hotel Collection.

Accor is collaborating with the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) Investments LLC, a private equity firm under the Dubai government banner.

“We are very excited to partner with Accor on this project. We trust the group’s expertise will elevate the QE2 to a new era of operations” said Saeed Al-Bannai, CEO of PCFC investment. 

“The Queen Elizabeth as we know her, has made history and we are confident that Accor will keep her legacy alive while her strong heritage and notoriety {sic} will remain a destination in itself, where guests and visitors alike can enjoy a unique experience.”

Situated in Dubai’s Port Rashid, the QE2’s location is in close proximity to Sheikh Zayed Road, providing easy connection to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and La Mer Beach, all of which are all located less than 20 minutes away. 

“This is a great opportunity for Accor to expand its footprint in the UAE with the introduction of a unique project which brings diversity to the portfolio, while expanding the MGallery brand presence in the city,” says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey (hell of a job title).

“Not only are we in charge of the only floating hotel in Dubai, but we are also contributing the Dubai Urban Master plan 2049, with the aim to map out the path for a sustainable urban development while increasing the city attractiveness as a global destination.”

Once the renovation is completed, the new MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will feature 447 hotel rooms, nine food and beverage outlets, 10 meeting rooms, 5,620sqm area for outdoor events, six retail outlets, a swimming pool and a gym. 

“We are confident that once finalised, the MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will become a true must-visit attraction, sharing her own stories with her guests while offering a truly unforgettable experience on-board”, added Willis.

Accor currently operates 62 properties in the UAE with 20 more properties in the pipeline.