Dubai International Airport registered the highest monthly traffic in its 55-year history with 7.2 million passengers in August.

According to the latest traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports today, traffic at Dubai Airport reached 7,282,256, up 9.5 per cent from 6,648,058 recorded during the same month in 2014. The year to date traffic totalled 52,264,223, up 12.4 per cent compared to 46,479,919 recorded during the first eight months last year.

The bumper traffic was boosted by the seasonal rush of travellers, including inbound traffic of residents returning for the start of the academic year, as well as increase in flight frequency and launch of new services by Emirates, flydubai and other airlines.
 
The Indian subcontinent topped the list of regions with highest growth in passenger numbers (+143,970 passengers) followed by Western Europe (+129,950) and the GCC (+111,637). Eastern Europe was the fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth (+67.9 per cent), followed by North America (24.8 per cent) - which benefited from the increase in Emirates’ capacity with bigger aircraft to Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco, and the added daily flights to both New York and Seattle. Russia & the CIS (12.9 per cent) also showed growth in passenger numbers as well as the Middle East (11.6 per cent), spurred mainly by launch of services to new destinations and additional capacities on Emirates and flydubai among other carriers.
 
India remained the top destination country (855,550 passengers) with financial capital Mumbai as the busiest destination, followed by the UK (543,213 passengers) and Saudi Arabia (480,051 passengers). London was the top destination city followed closely by Kuwait and Doha. The passenger per movement during the month was 217, which is among the highest for international hubs and a milestone of efficiency for Dubai International Airport.
 
Aircraft movements totalled 34,773 during the month under review compared to 31,214 movements recorded in August 2014, an increase of 11.4 per cent. Year to date aircraft movement totalled 268,253, up 18.1 per cent compared to 227,110 recorded during the same period in 2014.
 
Dubai International handled freight volumes totalling 207,427 tonnes in August compared to 196,986 tonnes recorded in August 2014, up by 5.3 per cent. Year to date cargo reached 1,645,815 tonnes, up 2.9 per cent compared to 1,599,806 recorded during the first eight months last year. – TradeArabia News Service