Tahnoun International Airport recorded 14,724 aircraft movements in the third quarter of 2026, marking a 17.1 percent increase year-on-year. Abu Dhabi Airports reported that cargo volumes grew even faster, jumping 63 percent to 2,335 tonnes during the same three-month period.
Third-Quarter Traffic Surges Across Al Ain Operations
Total aircraft movements reached 14,724 for the quarter, lifting the year-to-date figure to 48,558 flights—a 17.9 percent climb compared to the first nine months of the previous year, according to data released by Abu Dhabi Airports.
Cargo operations expanded at a notably steeper rate. The terminal handled 2,335 tonnes of freight in the third quarter alone, representing a 63 percent surge from the same period in 2025. The nine-month total reached 7,335 tonnes—a 110.4 percent increase year-on-year, as confirmed by business filings.
Scheduled Passenger Flights Target November Expansion
Scheduled passenger frequencies passing through the airport are projected to hit 16 flights per week by the end of November 2026, representing a 60 percent increase in weekly rotations. While the operator did not release specific quarterly passenger headcounts, the frequency expansion underscores a concerted push to bolster commercial connectivity across the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, reinforcing the airport’s expanding role as a vital hub for commerce and travel across the Al Ain Region
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Multimodal Logistics Network Connects Al Ain to Regional Ports
Behind the traffic gains lies an intentional alignment of regional transport infrastructure. The airfield sits within a 1.5-hour drive of Zayed International Airport and has 5,000,000 sqm of prime serviced freezone plots in close proximity, positioning industrial tenants at the centre of an expanding network of air, sea, and rail connections across the United Arab Emirates and the wider GCC region.
Executives anticipate that logistics capabilities will multiply once upcoming rail integration is finished.
The growth we are seeing at Tahnoun International Airport (AAN) reflects the strength of its location and the role it plays in connecting Al Ain to the UAE and the wider GCC region. With convenient access to the country’s major aviation hubs and ports, and Hafeet Rail set to link the airport to the Etihad Rail network and Sohar Port, AAN is well positioned to support the continued growth of trade and travel through Al Ain.
Ahmed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports