Dubai International Airport records double-digit growth for third consecutive month

Double-digit growth in passenger traffic continued at Dubai International for the third consecutive month with Dubai Airports announcing a 10.7% jump in passenger numbers during August. This follows increases of 10.3% in June and 12.6% in July.

Dubai International handled a total of 3,729,879 passengers in August 2009 as compared to 3,368,260 during the corresponding month last year. The airport’s monthly passenger throughput exceeded the 3.7 million mark for the second time this year, following the record-breaking 3.76 million passengers recorded in July.

Consistent growth during the first eight months of 2009 has seen the year to date passenger traffic reach 26,878,331, as compared to 25,182,526 for the corresponding period in 2008, an increase of 6.7%. This contrasts dramatically with the 7% contraction seen in international passengers worldwide year-to-date as reported by Airports Council International (ACI).

Despite the continuing global downturn in air freight movement, Dubai International is holding on to its position among the world’s top five hubs for international cargo volumes. Dubai Airports Cargo handled a total of 163,427 tonnes of air freight in August 2009 as compared to 158,714 tonnes in August 2008, up 2.9%.

The year to date cargo movement reached 1,198,546 tonnes, up from 1,197,522 tonnes during the same period in 2008, showing a marginal increase of 0.1%. By comparison, ACI reports global volumes for international airfreight are down 20% year to date.

Dubai International’s sustained growth supports projections for a record-breaking year for the region’s leading airport.

Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports CEO said: “The end of the summer also marks the beginning of high-season for tourists which puts Dubai International on track to set a new record of 40.5 million passengers by year end.”

Dubai Airports recently released a traffic forecast which projects an 8.3% increase in passenger numbers in 2009 and a 13.6% rise in 2010.

Griffith said: “Dubai International is the only airport among the top ten airports in terms international passenger traffic to still record positive growth.

"Aviation here has defied the global trend and this is testament to the attractiveness of Dubai not just as a transit hub but also as an international destination for both business and tourism. This pays dividends not only to the 125 airlines that operate into Dubai International but to the travel, tourism, logistics and hospitality sectors in the local economy.”