Dubai International Airport recorded the busiest six months in its 50-year history as 24.6 million passengers passed through its gates during the first half of 2011, compared to 22.6 million in the same period in 2010, an increase of 8.9 per cent.

Dubai is now the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger traffic, a statement said.

In June, Dubai International handled a total of 4.07 million passengers, up 10.4 per cent from the 3.68 million who passed through the airport in June 2010.  The average monthly passenger traffic recorded in the first half of 2011 stands at 4.09 million as compared to 3.76 million during the corresponding period in 2010.

The year to date daily average passenger throughput at Dubai International reached 135,700 compared to 124,600 recorded during the first six months of 2010, it said.

Aircraft movements in June totalled 26,101 up 5 per cent from 24,847 registered during the corresponding period in 2010. Year to date aircraft movements reached 159,372, an increase of 6.2 per cent compared to 150,095 recorded during the first half of 2010.

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

The fastest growing regions for passenger traffic during the first half of the year include Eastern Europe (+302.4%), GCC (+28.2%), Russia & CIS (+20.8%), North America (+16.8%), Asia Pacific (+13.2%), and the Indian Subcontinent (+8.3%).

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 per cent. In June, Dubai International handled a total of 183,365 tonnes of cargo an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 177,285 tonnes in June 2010.

“As the numbers clearly suggest, robust passenger traffic growth continues despite high fuel prices and growing economic uncertainty in Europe and the U.S.,” 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 $7.8 billion expansion of Dubai International is well-timed to accommodate the expected average annual growth of 7.2 per cent over the next 10 years.”

Griffiths said in the first half of 2011 over 200 new weekly flights were launched to 19 new destinations across Asia, Europe and Africa by different passenger carriers, including Emirates and flydubai. Dubai International currently serves 150 airlines flying to over 220 destinations across six continents.

Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai’s airports – Dubai International as well as Dubai World Central. 

Dubai World Central, the first phase of which was opened for cargo operations in June 2010 and for General Aviation in April 2011, will eventually become the world’s largest airport with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo per year. - TradeArabia News Service