Abu Dhabi International Airport posts 7.5% growth on Q1-Q3, at ACI WAGA

Abu Dhabi International Airport announced its traffic figures for the first three quarters of 2009 at the ACI World Annual General Assembly (WAGA) - which opened in Kuala Lumpur today - demonstrating continued and steady passenger growth at 7.5%, over the same period last year.

Set against the backdrop of the airport industry’s largest annual event, the traffic figures released Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) - the UAE’s largest airport operator - also showed a 6.8% passenger increase for the month of September alone.

Above: Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Q3 passenger results were also in positive territory with a 6.4% increase as steady gains on cargo, over the first nine months, continued at 2.0%, with aircraft movements up 8.3% over the combined three quarters.

John Stent, Acting-CEO of ADAC, and speaker at the ACI WAGA Conference said on Wednesday: “Abu Dhabi International Airport has maintained consistent traffic growth, throughout the global downturn, which is testament to the robust network and frequency expansion of Etihad Airways, as well as a continuing number of airline operators commencing operations to and from Abu Dhabi.

“To date, we have already welcomed seven new carriers, in 2009, and with Malaysia’s Air Asia X becoming the eighth to start operations to Abu Dhabi later this month, we can be nothing short of pleased with the way the airport has maintained solid growth, despite difficult times for the industry globally.”

Stent is in Kuala Lumpur to deliver a presentation at the ACI World Annual General Assembly’s afternoon session on Wednesday 4 November, with a view to updating delegates on the US$6.8bn development Abu Dhabi International Airport is currently undertaking. ADAC will also have a stand at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre during the event.