QAIA new terminal - an artist's impression
Passenger traffic up 2.6pc at Amman
Amman, February 24, 2013
Passenger traffic at the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman reached 475,069 in January this year, a 2.6 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Aircraft movement rose by over 3 per cent to 5,269, said the Airport International Group (AIG), the consortium responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of the airport.
Cargo traffic registered consistent performance at 6,831 tonnes, up by a marginal 0.03 tonnes compared to the same period in 2012.
Annual traffic hit an all-time high of 6,250,048 passengers in 2012, 14.3 per cent increase over the annual total of 2011 and a difference of 782,322 passengers, AIG said.
AIG is investing an estimated $750 million in the construction of the landmark new terminal, slated to open in March this year following a one-time, overnight operational transfer from the old facilities.
The new terminal will increase airport’s capacity to more than 7 million passengers. When the existing terminal is demolished and the piers expanded, the capacity will grow to 9 million passengers, and later expansions of the piers will take capacity up to 12 million passengers per year, AIG said.
“QAIA’s continued traffic growth is a positive indicator of the airport’s expected performance in 2013, and underscores the necessity of the new state-of-the-art terminal in accommodating the projected increase in passenger and flight numbers,” said AIG CEO Kjeld Binger.
“QAIA is poised to become a niche transit hub in the region, adding great value to Jordan’s economic development and fulfilling His Majesty’s vision for the airport. The figures recorded for January 2013 represent a promising start to what we hope will be a milestone year for both QAIA and the Kingdom overall,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service
