Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded a 42 per cent growth in passenger traffic and 14 per cent rise in aircraft movements in November compared to the same period last year.

The airport handled a total of 590,000 passengers in November 2007, a 42 per cent rise over the 416,000 passengers seen in November 2006. The number of aircraft movements increased 14 per cent during the same period, rising from 6,449 to 7,358, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

For the year to date (YTD Jan-November) the number of passengers increased by 30 per cent achieving the milestone of more than 6 million. Aircraft movement showed an uptrend of 8 per cent, having registered a total of 74,476 movements, compared to 68,920 in the same period last year.

Cargo volume increased to 27,137 tonnes in November 2007 from 23,454 tonnes last year, recording a growth of 16 per cent, the statement said.

The month saw the launch of operations of Sama, the Saudi-based budget carrier, which began an international charter service with six days a week flights from Riyadh and Dammam.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ADAC, is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Government. It has taken over the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain international Airports since  September 2006. Under its mandate will be the re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport, which includes the new midfield terminal designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to 20 million passengers by 2010.--TradeArabia News Service