Dubai airport approaches 40 million passenger mark

Rebecca Bundhun

• Last Updated: November 16. 2009 7:30PM UAE / November 16. 2009 3:30PM GMT

Passenger traffic at the Dubai International Airport is on track to pass 40 million this year, its chief executive says.

The number of travellers served by the airport increased by 11.7 per cent last month compared with October last year, boosted by the start of the travel season and the continued capacity growth of Emirates Airline.

“We are definitely on track to surpass the 40 million passenger mark this year, spurred by the growth of Emirates Airline, the onset of the tourist season and major international events such as the Dubai Airshow 2009, which alone is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors,” said Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports.

“Our performance … is proof that it pays to invest in infrastructure and build capacity.”

The airport handled a total of 3,496,366 passengers last month, compared with 3,130,333 passengers in the same period last year. It was the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth for Dubai International.

Dubai International last month registered a 17.7 per cent increase in freight traffic, the first double-digit growth in 13 months, in a busy month for the emirate, Dubai Airports said.

“The ongoing growth in Dubai’s aviation sector has a bearing on our trade and tourism, while it draws strength from Dubai’s standing as the region’s hub for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports.

“Economic sectors feed off each other’s growth. They are all interconnected.”

Dubai Airports handled 185,867 tonnes of freight last month, compared with 157,968 tonnes in October last year.

Passenger numbers rose 8.3 per cent to 33,565,105 in the first 10 months of the year, from 30,982,665 in the same period last year.

This year also saw the launch of the budget carrier flydubai, which flies to destinations including Beirut and Alexandria.

Dubai International is the sixth-busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic numbers, with connections to over 210 destinations through more than 125 airlines.

Dubai Airports expects to see a 13.6 per cent growth in international passenger numbers next year, with traffic predicted to exceed 46 million.

Its new Dubai World Central is set to open its first phase, valued at US$820 million (Dh3.01 billion), in June.

The new airport will eventually become the world’s largest, with a capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo a year, Dubai Airports has said.

rbundhun@thenational.ae