The southern airport hub recorded a 10.7% rise in passenger traffic to the end of September 2026.
Air connectivity across the southern provinces continues to demonstrate sustained momentum, reflected in sharply rising activity indicators. According to the latest figures published by the National Airports Office (ONDA) for September 2026, Dakhla Airport welcomed 282,043 passengers during the first nine months of the year, representing a 10.7% increase compared with the 254,786 travellers recorded over the same period in 2025. This positive trend was particularly pronounced in September alone, with 33,898 passengers passing through the terminal—a monthly rise of 11.69%. A detailed breakdown of these flows shows steady growth on domestic routes, which totalled 225,697 passengers (up 12.9%), while the international segment accounted for 56,346 travellers, marking a 2.69% increase.
Outperforming the national average
On the operational side, aircraft movements at the airport rose by 4.03% to reach 2,375 movements by the end of September 2026, compared with 2,283 a year earlier. This performance forms part of a broader upward trend across the Kingdom’s entire airport network, which handled a total of 29,330,764 commercial passengers over the first nine months of the year—an 8.74% increase year on year. Dakhla’s above-average growth underscores the rising appeal of this regional hub among business travellers, economic operators, and enthusiasts of coastal and sports tourism.
Benefits for regional tourism and local investment
The steady rise in air traffic to the « Pearl of the South » is generating direct knock-on effects for the local economy of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region. Seamless domestic and international connections bolster hotel occupancy rates and boost activity for inbound tour operators, water sports providers, and ground transport services, while supporting the creation of sustainable jobs for young people in the region. By strengthening air links to this strategic territory, the country is deepening the economic integration of its southern provinces and supporting the rollout of major port and energy projects currently underway.
