The performance of the airline passenger market in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract EN

Despite a relatively short history, UAE airlines have managed to establish themselves alongside the best-performing airlines in the world, due to their spectacular growth in an economic environment that lacks many of the liberalization conditions that are perceived to be conducive to improved economic performance.

This paper analyses the framework governing airlines and the impact of air traffic liberalization along routes served by Emirates on enplanement and fares.

It finds that increased air traffic openness can result in higher enplanement and lower fares, yielding substantial net welfare gains to the UAE economy.

This suggests working on pursuing further liberalization in the passenger airline market.