Dubai Int’l Airport posts busiest H1 in history

Thursday, 28 July 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dubai International Airport recorded the busiest six months in its 50 year history as 24.6 million passengers passed through the world’s fourth busiest airport during the first half of the year.

International passenger traffic during compared to 22.6 million in the corresponding period in 2010, an increase of 8.9 percent, operator Dubai Airports said.

In June, Dubai International handled a total of 4.07 million passengers, up 10.4 percent from the 3.68 million who passed through the airport in June 2010, it added in a statement.

The average monthly passenger traffic recorded in the first half of 2011 stood at 4.09 million compared to 3.76 million in the year-earlier period.

The year to date daily average passenger throughput at Dubai International reached 135,700, more than 10,000 more than in the first six months of 2010.

Aircraft movements in June totalled 26,101, up 5 percent, the statement added.

In terms of top destinations served by Dubai International, the five countries with the greatest passenger volumes year to date were India, UK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran.

The fastest growing regions for passenger traffic during the first half of the year included Eastern Europe (up 302.4 percent), GCC (up 28.2 percent), Russia & CIS (up 20.8 percent).

During the first half of 2011, air cargo volumes remained steady with 1.058 million tonnes of freight being processed through the facility compared to 1.055 million tonnes during the same period in 2010, an increase of 0.3 percent.

“As the numbers clearly suggest, robust passenger traffic growth continues despite high fuel prices and growing economic uncertainty in Europe and the US,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports.

“This is being driven by the addition of new routes and frequencies, more wide-bodied aircraft as well as by the attractiveness of Dubai as a business and tourist destination and an efficient transit point. Our planned $7.8bn expansion of Dubai International is well-timed to accommodate the expected average annual growth of 7.2 percent over the next ten years.”