Dubai Airports keeps freight moving

Dubai International (DXB) handled about 213,000 tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of the year, maintaining freight movement despite regional airspace disruption that reduced flight capacity. The airport kept cargo operations running through February–March constraints and is now scaling up capacity as UAE airspace restrictions have been lifted.

During the course of the disruption, DXB adjusted cargo schedules and ground handling based on available airspace, allowing essential goods to continue moving even as flight options were limited. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the airport’s focus was on keeping operations stable and ready to respond as conditions improved.

Airport authorities worked with airlines, service partners and air traffic control to manage restricted routes. Cargo movements were aligned with shifting airspace access, which helped avoid major backlogs and kept shipments flowing with minimal delays under the circumstances.

With airspace now fully reopened, cargo capacity is being restored gradually, depending on regional route availability. Maintaining cargo flows during the disruption helped limit supply chain delays, especially for time-sensitive goods. As flight movements increase, cargo volumes are expected to recover in line with demand and improving network capacity.