Abu Dhabi passenger traffic up 8.1% in first half 2009

Abu Dhabi Airports Company has released its June and year-to-date traffic figures showing an 8.1% increase on passengers and movements so far this year.

In June the airport recorded a 7.9% increase in traffic compared to last year’s figures.

It said that on average 26,966 passengers passed through the airport last month and that movements increased by 15.2%.

The airport attributes some of the growth to increased services by Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Etihad’s recent route launches to Athens, Istanbul and Larnaca.

India remained the airport’s largest market and main driver of growth with a 12.5% increase in traffic year on year. Pakistan remains in second place with an increase of 7.6%, leaving Saudi Arabia as the airports’ third largest market.

London remained the busiest destination for the airport in June, with a total of 41,748 passengers. In second place came Doha with 34,399 passengers, followed by Bangkok in third with total passenger numbers of 29,930. Jeddah and Manila were the fourth and fifth busiest destinations respectively.

Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice President of Airline Marketing and Aeronautical Revenue, commented: “This year has been a challenging year for the aviation industry, we are glad to see airlines, airports and the whole aviation industry work together in sustaining and growing the business. We value our relationship with airlines and work in close partnership with them to deliver these healthy growth rates.

“In spite of the current global economic downturn, Abu Dhabi International Airport continues to record growth and defy the negative market trends. We continue to invest in the quality of our services and our facilities, which ensures we are poised and ready to act when the market makes its recovery,” he said.